NOVEMBER 10, 2017

STS Express Weekly Newsletter

CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ................................................................................. 3 BUILDING UPDATE ............................................................................................................................3

IMPORTANT DATES ........................................................................................................................ 4 NOVEMBER ......................................................................................................................................4

DECEMBER .......................................................................................................................................4

SCHOOL CALENDARS .........................................................................................................................4

UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ................................................................... 5 PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO YOUR UPCOMING GRADE SOCIAL(S)......................................................................5

VOLUNTEER COFFEE MORNING – NOVEMBER 14................................................................................5

SENIOR SCHOOL MUSICAL – LES MISÉRABLES .....................................................................................6

JOIN US FOR COFFEE TALK .................................................................................................................6

SAVE THE DATE FOR APRIL’S EXPERTS IN EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES EVENT ......................................7

FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS............................................................................................. 8 ADMISSIONS EARLY DECISION APPLICATION DEADLINE – NOVEMBER 30 .............................................8

VOLUNTEER COFFEE MORNING – NOVEMBER 14................................................................................8

LES MISÉRABLES SCHOOL EDITION ................................................................................................... 10

JACKET RACKET 2017 ...................................................................................................................... 10

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS ............................................................ 11

VOLUNTEER AT STS – WE NEED YOU! ............................................................................................... 11

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ................................................................................................................. 12 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS........................................................................... 13

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPORT CARDS ............................................................................................. 13

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES .......................................................................................................... 13

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 2017-2018................................................................... 13

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS LAUNCH PAD ....................................... 14

FAMILY FUN NIGHT FOR GRADES K-4 ............................................................................................... 14

ANNUAL HOLIDAY CHORAL CONCERT............................................................................................... 14

MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS............................................................ 15 MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS .......................................................... 15

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO GRADE 11 PARENT SOCIAL ............................................ 15

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY CHORAL CONCERT............................................................................................... 16

SPRING BREAK SERVICE LEARNING IN COSTA RICA OR GUATEMALA: IT’S TIME TO APPLY!................... 16

CLASS OF 2018 - BABY PHOTOS NEEDED BEFORE DECEMBER 15!!...................................................... 17

STUDENT SERVICES ...................................................................................................................... 18 JOIN US FOR COFFEE TALK STARTING NOVEMBER 10 ........................................................................ 18

UNIVERSITY PLANNING PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT ..................................................................... 18

UNIVERSITY SEARCH TOOLS ............................................................................................................. 18

UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES VISITING STS .................................................................................... 18

UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY ........................................................... 19

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS.......................................................................................... 20 STS STUDENTS PERFORM AT MOUNTAIN PARK SCHOOL SPEECH COMPETITION ................................. 20

FIRST PLACE WIN AT RALLY POINTE.................................................................................................. 21

ALUMNI OFFER ADVICE AT SPEED MENTORING EVENT ..................................................................... 22

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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

BUILDING UPDATE I t may be hard to tell from the outside; however, there has been good progress made on the interior of the new addition in recent weeks. Flooring, partitions and millwork have been installed in much of the space and painting has also been completed in those areas. Unfortunately, we were not able to complete the paving before freeze-up but we will soon have additional parent and v isitor parking available near the front entrance once the installation of lighting has been completed in that area.

At this point, it looks as though we will have occupancy of the building at the start of the New Year and we are currently developing plans to make the move over the winter break. New furnishings are slated for delivery in the first week of January. I cannot guarantee this timeline, but we seem to be on track for it as of this writing. The back-up plan would be to use the 5-day holiday in February around Family Day to make the move.

On Tuesday of this week, the Executive Director of the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) v isited STS and I gave her a hardhat tour of the new building. She commented that it was the nicest school building that she had seen in her travels across Canada.

Dr. William Jones Head of School

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IMPORTANT DATES In addition to the listed dates below, be sure to check for new events throughout the year online – the following calendar can be downloaded in an iCal format.

NOVEMBER November 14, 2017 Middle and Senior School Parent-Teacher Interviews

November 13-17, 2017 Bullying Awareness Week

November 14, 2017 Volunteer Coffee Morning – Kherani Residence 9:30 am

November 18, 2017 Grade 11 Social

November 24, 2017 Casual Dress Day

November 27, 2017 Elementary School report cards on Managebac

November 28, 2017 Student-Led Conferences 4:00-8:00 pm

DECEMBER December 1, 2017 Student-Led Conferences 9:00 am – 12:00 noon (no school for Elementary School students)

SCHOOL CALENDARS For more important dates and upcoming events, the following school calendars can be found on the STS website: 2017 – 2018 School Holiday Calendar Upcoming Events Calendar

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UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO YOUR UPCOMING GRADE SOCIAL(S) We are pleased to inv ite all STS parents to your child(ren)’s 2017–2018 grade social where you can socialize with returning parents, welcome new families, and find out how you can be involved with the STS community. Join us for an evening of delightful conversations and cocktails, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. You should receive an e-inv itation from your grade’s parent host four to six weeks prior to each grade social.

Saturday, November 18, Grade 11, Barbara and Drew MacIntyre

Friday, February 9, Grade 9, Richard Baverstock and Jennifer Browning

Thursday, February 22, Grades 3 and 4, Suzanne and Scott Henuset

Saturday, March 10, Grade 10, Deborah Petriuk and Miles Pittman

I f you have any questions regarding the socials, please contact Caroline Banadar at 403-938-8344, banadac@sts.ab.ca.

VOLUNTEER COFFEE MORNING – NOVEMBER 14 The Volunteer Coffee Morning, hosted by the Parents' of STS (POSTS) Executive is coming soon. All volunteers, past, present and future, are inv ited to join us for a chance to meet new friends and catch up with old ones! We want to meet and thank you for your time supporting our school.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 9:30-11:30 am At the Kherani residence - 155 Eagle Ridge Dr SW

Please RSVP to POSTS President, Tara Black, at rtblack@shaw.ca.

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SENIOR SCHOOL MUSICAL – LES MISÉRABLES Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School’s Fine Arts Department is proud to present the epic tale of broken dreams, passion and redemption Les Miserables School Edition, November 29, 30 and December 1 and 2, 2017. Winner of over 100 international awards and seen by over 65 million people worldwide, Les Misérables is an epic and uplifting story about the surv ival of the human spirit. Now adapted for high school performers, Les Misérables School Edition features one of the most memorable scores of all time and some of the most memorable characters to ever grace your stage.

In nineteenth century France, Jean Valjean is released from years of unjust imprisonment, but finds nothing in store for him but mistrust and mistreatment. He breaks his parole in hopes of starting a new life, initiating a lifelong struggle for redemption as he is relentlessly pursued by

police inspector Javert, who refuses to believe Valjean can change his ways. Finally, during the Paris student uprising of 1832, Javert must confront his ideals after Valjean spares his life and saves that of the student revolutionary who has captured the heart of Valjean's adopted daughter.

The cast, band, and crew have been hard at work rehearsing songs and blocking and building props for the show.

Tickets are $16 per person and can be purchased online at: https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/blog/les-miserables-senior-school-musical/ Please note the show is suitable for Middle and Senior School students.

JOIN US FOR COFFEE TALK Our team is offering something new and exciting this year to support mental health in our community – Coffee Talks! Several times throughout the year we are going to host informal information and discussion sessions in the Black Watch Bistro (cafeteria). Grab a coffee and join the group after you drop your children off for class. Our gatherings will be from 9:00 – 10:00 am and will feature our co-facilitators and consulting psychologists, Dr. Brent Macdonald and Ms. Tasha Belix, sharing their expertise and answering your questions. These talks will provide useful parenting tips and information no matter what your child’s grade.

Save the Date! January 26, 2018 - Anxiety: when stress goes from helpful to harmful

March 9, 2018 - Technology and building a healthy brain

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May 25, 2018 - Helping your child prepare for the end of the school year

SAVE THE DATE FOR APRIL’S EXPERTS IN EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES EVENT STS will host Dr. Karyn Gordon, acclaimed teen and relationship expert, on April 26, 2018. Stay tuned for more details!

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FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

ADMISSIONS EARLY DECISION APPLICATION DEADLINE – NOVEMBER 30 For those families with children planning to apply to STS for Grades 2-12 for September 2018, our Early Decision application deadline is coming up on November 30, 2017. The application deadline for students joining Kindergarten or Grade 1 is February 10, 2018. For more information regarding the application process and to schedule your child’s tour and interv iew, please email: admissions@sts.ab.ca and v isit: https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/admissions/.

Siblings of current students are encouraged to apply during early decision to ensure consideration for all available places.

VOLUNTEER COFFEE MORNING – NOVEMBER 14 The Volunteer Coffee Morning, hosted by the Parents' of STS (POSTS) Executive is coming soon. All volunteers, past, present and future, are inv ited to join us for a chance to meet new friends and catch up with old ones! We want to meet and thank you for your time supporting our school.

Tuesday, November 14, 2017 9:30-11:30 am At the Kherani residence - 155 Eagle Ridge Dr SW Please RSVP to POSTS President, Tara Black, at rtblack@shaw.ca. BE A SPARTAN – STAND UP TO BULLYING November 13 – 17 is Bullying Awareness Week across Canada! We will have a number of activ ities taking place at STS to keep this important issue at the forefront in our community.

Bullying is often defined as intentional aggressive behavior. I t can involve either physical or verbal harassment or both. Situations that reflect bullying involve an imbalance of power. Some examples: a group of children team up against one v ictim, someone who is physically bigger intimidates a smaller indiv idual; someone who is more aggressive or has more social power over-whelms an indiv idual with less social influence.

At STS, we prefer to focus on building and reinforcing positive relationships versus an anti-bullying campaign.

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Throughout the week we will be involving students from Grades K -12 as we focus on the important role we all play in addressing bullying by improving our relationships with everyone in our community.

Here is a glimpse of what will be happening:

• Posters will be visible around the school for the week.

• Our student assemblies will focus on building positive relationships and our role in dealing with bullying.

• Bystander Heroes – Our Prefects will be dressing as heroes to help emphasize to our younger students the power of stepping up when they see bullying.

• Take the Pledge – Our students are encouraged to take a pledge to stand up when they see bullying occur and sign our banner.

• Middle School students will be involved in activities and discussions on various aspects of peer relationships with regard to bullying.

• Our younger students will be creating “Give A Compliment” sheets. These sheets will be posted around the school so students can tear off a compliment or positive thought to give to someone.

• Elementary School students will be reading books on the theme of being kind to others.

• POSTS will be on campus handing out “Kindness Postcards” encouraging students pay forward an act of kindness.

• Senior School students who drive will be given “tickets” on their cars reminding them that positive relationships include how they deal with classmates and others with whom they share the road.

As this event approaches please use this opportunity to talk to your child about their role in building positive relationships with ALL of their classmates, not just their friends and eliminating bullying.

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LES MISÉRABLES SCHOOL EDITION Do you hear the people sing?

Tickets on sale now at https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/student-life/fine-arts/tickets/

Get yours today!

JACKET RACKET 2017 The Jacket Racket initiative is a charity that has been running since 1988, and it was founded with the purpose of providing winter clothes to children in Calgary and Okotoks who do not have access to them. As a Canadian, you know winters here can be extremely cold, which highlights the importance of this event, because it’s success helps ensure the safety and livelihood of children in less fortunate communities.

STS has contributed to Jacket Racket for many years, and we hope to continue our school’s participation. So, from October 30 – November 15, we are inviting the STS community to donate any winter clothing items they can and bring them to the School and place them in the designated drop-off point. The Strathcona Doors, or as students know them, the bus doors, will serve as this location for the duration of the event. At the end of the collection period, all donated items will be picked up by members of the Jacket Racket organization who will then work with their colleagues to distribute the clothes across communities in both Calgary and Okotoks.

Examples of items you could donate include:

• Mitts

• Gloves

• Puffy jackets

• Snow pants

• Winter Boots

• Scarves

• Balaclavas

• Toques

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Please ensure that all donated clothing items are clean and undamaged so that they are in a hygienic and wearable condition. We hope to collect a lot of warm clothing. Thank you in advance for any and all donations!

Ajitesh Anand E: AnandaA@sts.ab.ca Gabriel Shepherd E: ShepheGa@sts.ab.ca Ms. Egli E: EgliN@sts.ab.ca

DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School wishes to recognize eminent alumni who through their outstanding contributions to the school, have stimulated new ideas or developments at STS, and have shown exceptional dedication, creativity or leadership.

You are inv ited to honour those who have given generously of their time, talent, and energy to serve Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School and distinguish themselves among the alumni of our institution.

To submit a nomination, please complete and return the nomination form by November 30, 2017, and tell us why you think the nominee deserves special recognition. Click here to v iew guidelines for qualification of candidates.

The winner(s) will be honoured at the 11th Annual Calgary Alumni Dinner in the spring of 2018.

VOLUNTEER AT STS – WE NEED YOU! Parent/guardian volunteer participation at STS prov ides wonderful opportunities to support our children, make friends, and share your time and talents within our unique and exceptional community.

There are many volunteer options to suit everyone: sharing one or two hours (or more) of your time WILL make a difference! Check out our current volunteering opportunities or consult our Volunteer Handbook for many others that are coming up, soon. I f you have any questions, or need help filling out the volunteer registration form, please contact us at volunteer@sts.ab.ca.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED POSTS welcomes all new and returning volunteers! Just a friendly reminder that all volunteers (new and old) must fill in a Volunteer Registration Form or register online prior to any volunteer duties. Volunteer Registration Forms are also available at reception.

KERBY CENTRE LUNCHEON AT STS – WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2017 The beloved Kerby Centre Luncheon has been an STS tradition since 1976. We require 6-8 volunteers to help set up in the morning, assist the Grade 6 students in serv ing lunch to the Kerby Centre seniors and clean up afterwards (shifts are available if you can’t be there the entire time). Someone to snap pictures of the event would also be greatly appreciated.

Email volunteer@sts.ab.ca to indicate your interest to volunteer as soon as possible or if you have any questions.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL REPORT CARDS Elementary School Report Cards will be published digitally this year, v ia our learning management system, Manaegbac. This shift to digital reporting supports our commitment to environmental stewardship, aligns our reporting platforms with the Middle and Senior Schools and will allow parents and students to v iew historical reports easily.

I f you have not previously logged on to Managebac, you will receive a welcome email on Friday, November 10, 2017. This welcome email will prompt you to create a password. Once you have followed the prompts, your account will be registered.

On the day of report card publication, Monday, November 27, 2017 you will receive an email notification that a report has been published. You can either click on the link found in the email to access the digital report card or you can log into Managebac, click on the “Reports” tab to access the report.

Please contact Alanna Wellwood, Director of Educational Technology and Academic Programming, wellwoa@sts.ab.ca if you require any assistance.

STUDENT-LED CONFERENCES Please note that Student-Led Conferences will take place on Tuesday, November 28 from 4:00-8:00 pm and Friday, December 1 from 9:00 am – 12:00 noon. Student-Led Conferences are an essential element of the assessment process that involve parents, and prov ide students with important learning opportunities. We look forward to your involvement in the upcoming celebrations of learning. Please refer to the following document for detailed information and important dates for booking your child(ren)’s Student-Led Conference https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/mysts/Student-Led-Conferences-Letter-Nov-2017.pdf

Please also note that the Intermediate Choir, scheduled on Tuesday, November 28, will still take place.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 2017-2018 September to New Facility Opening: Location: Small Gym Time: 3:00 pm

Once in New Facility: Location: C.A. Smith Arts Centre (Theatre) Time: 2:50 pm

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Assembly Dates: November 17 December 8 January 19 January 26 February 2 February 9 February 23 March 9 – PYP Exhibition Assembly

March 23 April 13 April 20 May 18 June 1 June 8

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS LAUNCH PAD Find out what is happening in our PYP this month. Please click on the link below to access information about the inquiries taking place within many different aspects of our Primary Years Programme.

https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/mysts/Curriculum-Connections-Launch-Pad-November-2017.pdf

FAMILY FUN NIGHT FOR GRADES K-4 Looking for an opportunity to be active with your kids? Look no further. On Thursday, November 23 from 3:45-4:45 pm the Grades K-4 students and their families are inv ited for Family Fun Night. Please come dressed and ready for activ ity. With three gyms set-up for enjoyable games like scooters, doctor dodge ball and other favourites, you are in store for a night of activ ity and great memories! The electronic consent for the evening has been sent to all parents and is due November 15 at 12:00 noon. I f you have any questions please contact Ms. Emily Ford (forde@sts.ab.ca).

ANNUAL HOLIDAY CHORAL CONCERT The annual STS Holiday Choral Concert takes place on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 pm in the C.A. Smith Arts Centre. This celebration of singing highlights our choristers from Grades 1 through Grade 9 and is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Performances from the Primary, Elementary, Handbell, Intermediate and Junior Choirs culminate with the massed choir spectacle of 130 singers singing together. Everyone is inv ited to this 90 minute concert and we hope you will plan to join us.

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MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS The final Middle and Senior School Parent-Teacher Interviews this month will be held on November 14 from 4:00-8:00 pm. We encourage both students and their parents to attend interv iews as this is an opportunity to collaboratively discuss progress to-date and strategies for future success. All members of our Academic Leadership Team are also available for meetings during these evenings.

Meetings are booked using the following link: https://sts.schoolappointments.com. For your convenience, the aforementioned link and the instructions are posted in the Managebac calendar. Please note that booking for interviews opened on October 30 at 3:30 pm, prior to the digital publication of fall interim report cards. Please consider some tips to make the most of these evenings:

• Review your child’s progress to date in each of their courses in the Academic tab in Managebac. This will allow you to survey areas of greatest need

• Review the instructions for school appointments and ensure you have created or updated your account

• Consider the locations of the interv iews when booking them to ensure you have sufficient travel time to move around the school between interviews. A school map is here to aid in this process: https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/school-map.pdf.

Middle and Senior School fall interim reports were released digitally v ia Managebac on November 2, 2017. The purpose of fall interim reports is to communicate course progress to date and prov ide feedback to students and parents on learning skills that are affecting performance. Parents with Managebac accounts will receive an email notification when the report card is published that will provide a link to v iew the report in Managebac.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR! PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO GRADE 11 PARENT SOCIAL Calling all Grade 11 parents! Thank you to everyone who has RSVP’d to the upcoming Grade 11 parent social on Saturday, November 18, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, at the home of Drew and Barbara MacIntyre. If you haven’t, there is still time to RSVP by responding to your e-v ite or by emailing Barbara MacIntyre at barbaramacintyre@shaw.ca. This is our last social of the fall term so if you can attend, please RSVP!

I f you have any questions regarding the parent socials or you’d like to host one in the future, please contact Caroline Banadar, Director of Advancement, at 403-938-8344, banadac@sts.ab.ca.

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ANNUAL HOLIDAY CHORAL CONCERT The annual STS Holiday Choral Concert takes place on Wednesday, December 6 at 7:00 pm in the C.A. Smith Arts Centre. This celebration of singing highlights our choristers from Grades 1 through Grade 9 and is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season. Performances from the Primary, Elementary, Handbell, Intermediate and Junior Choirs culminate with the massed choir spectacle of 130 singers singing together. Everyone is inv ited to this 90 minute concert and we hope you will plan to join us.

SPRING BREAK SERVICE LEARNING IN COSTA RICA OR GUATEMALA: IT’S TIME TO APPLY! For the past five years, STS has been prov iding service learning opportunities for Senior School students in both Costa Rica and Guatemala on an annual basis, during the Spring Break holiday period. I am pleased to inv ite applications for the March, 2018 projects at this time. Note that we run two separate programs, each with a maximum of 14 students. Students have positive, enriching adventures, and I would welcome the support of parents in encouraging broad participation.

In Costa Rica, our project focusses on ecological volunteerism with conservation efforts for leatherback sea turtles. These veritable dinosaurs are magnificent to work with, and we are lucky to work with local biologists (Quelonios del Caribe) in a hatchery we have funded, along one of the best stretches of beach on the Caribbean coast. Additionally, we spend time with the Bribri indigenous people in the v illage of Yorkin on the Panama/Costa Rica border, and volunteer with school building projects while gaining an understanding of their culture, history, and modern challenges. The Bribri are Costa Rica’s largest remaining indigenous group. Rugged travel and a home stay add to the adventure, including a trip up the Yorkin river by dugout canoe.

In Guatemala, we spend time at Somos Children’s Village, contributing to the building of this eco-sustainable, earthquake friendly community that prov ides holistic support for at-risk mothers and their children. Activ ities include construction, landscaping, gardening, teaching in the school, and hosting an activ ity day for the children. In this area of Guatemala, most of the population is indigenous Maya, and we seek to understand their rich culture and history. Hence, incorporated in the experience is an eighteen kilometre trek through the Mayan highlands, with stays in rural v illages as guests of local families. This gives us an authentic look at their strong ties to agriculture, family, and community. We spend time at beautiful Lake Atitlan, where we visit local charities aiming to allev iate some of the economic and health challenges in those communities, and we engage in Spanish lessons. No

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trip would be complete without a v isit to Antigua, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

To express interest in either project, I ask that students submit a single paragraph that describes the nature of their interest, and specifically addresses the phrase “When I have completed the project in ______, I will be better able to __________”. Students can email me directly: mercers@sts.ab.ca .

Aside from being great fun, the projects help students to better understand their places in the world, practice Spanish language skills, and foster global mindedness and philanthropic outlooks. Please call me directly at 403-938-9117 if I can prov ide more information about any aspects of the projects.

Sincerely,

Mr. Mercer

Serv ice Learning Projects Coordinator

CLASS OF 2018 - BABY PHOTOS NEEDED BEFORE DECEMBER 15!! In preparation for June’s Grad Breakfast slide show, we are asking parents of Grade 12 students to search their photo albums for two photographs of their graduate - one as a baby and the other in their early school days. Please scan and forward both photos to GradBabyPics@sts.ab.ca. Please remember to indicate the students name in the subject line and on each photo. Pictures are due by December 15, 2017. Thank you!

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STUDENT SERVICES The Student Serv ices department at STS supports our students’ learning as well as their social and emotional needs and educational planning. We strive to provide a safe and nurturing learning environment for all students. The following information is provided to support students and parents.

JOIN US FOR COFFEE TALK STARTING NOVEMBER 10 Our team is offering something new and exciting this year to support mental health in our community – Coffee Talks! Several times throughout the year we are going to host informal information and discussion sessions in the Black Watch Bistro (cafeteria). Grab a coffee and join the group after you drop your children off for class. Our gatherings will be from 9:00 – 10:00 am and will feature our co-facilitators and consulting psychologists, Dr. Brent Macdonald and Ms. Tasha Belix, sharing their expertise and answering your questions. These talks will provide useful parenting tips and information no matter what your child’s grade.

Save the Date! January 26, 2018 - Anxiety: when stress goes from helpful to harmful

March 9, 2018 - Technology and building a healthy brain

May 25, 2018 - Helping your child prepare for the end of the school year

UNIVERSITY PLANNING PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT Grades 9 and 10 Parents: Tuesday, January 23 at 7:00 pm in the C.A. Smith Arts Centre (theatre). All Grades 9 and 10 parents are encouraged to attend.

UNIVERSITY SEARCH TOOLS Canadian Universities: http://www.universitystudy.ca/search-programs/

American Universities: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search/

UK Universities: http://search.ucas.com/

UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES VISITING STS The final university representatives visiting STS will take place on November 14.

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All Senior School students and parents are welcomed and encourage to attend as many as possible to gain insight into a variety of programs.

Date Time/Location University

Tuesday,

November 14

12:00-12:35 pm

Room 51

UBC

Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia

UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY Please note, the information below is provided for information only. These are not STS sponsored events and, as such, there will be no STS superv ision provided.

StFX University President Dr. Kent MacDonald will be hosting a reception for interested students and their families next Wednesday, November 15 at the Fairmont Palliser at 7:00 pm. Students will have the opportunity to meet Dr. MacDonald and hear him speak on the topic of “Leadership and Community in the 21st Century”. Students will also have the opportunity to speak with members of their Recruitment and Admissions team with any questions they have.

I f you or your child would like to attend, they can RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stfx-reception-with-dr-kent-macdonald-tickets-39667350112?aff=GC1

Dalhousie University will be hosting a fall information session for prospective students and their parents at the Petroleum Club on Monday, November 27 at 7:00 pm. They will be offering Dal 101 (programs and admissions information) and university myth-busting. Click on this link to register: dal.ca/connect.

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WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS STS has a new blog! Visit https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/blog/ for stories and what is happening on campus. Be sure to bookmark this page! In addition to the blog, here are some highlights this week:

STS STUDENTS PERFORM AT MOUNTAIN PARK SCHOOL SPEECH COMPETITION On Friday, November 3, 33 students from STS competed at the Mountain Park School Speech Competition. Thank you to all the parents who came out to judge and without you, these tournaments could not take place. Although it is not possible that all students place, it is important to recognize the skills our students gain from these competitions is invaluable. We are so pleased that our students enjoy the opportunities that both Speech and Debate prov ide. Our next tournament is on Friday, November 17 at Central Memorial High School where 43 students will compete.

The following students are to be congratulated on their performances last week.

Juniors Duet Acting: Brandon Perry ’21 and Kyle Patry ’21 – Bronze

Pooja Dandugula ’22 and Shaheena Shajani ’22 – Silver

Kessia Varkey and Alia Nanji – Gold

Solo Acting:

Theodora Girgilus ’23 – Gold

Poetry: Inji Hafiz ’22 – Silver

Angelina Horta ‘21 – Gold

Persuasive: Kailee Meckelborg ’21 – Bronze

Seniors Prose: Ben Spilak ’19 – Gold

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Poetry: Nicholas Hadwin-Guardiola ’20 – Silver

Impromptu: Chelli Shapiro ’19 – Gold

FIRST PLACE WIN AT RALLY POINTE On Saturday, November 4 the Junior B Boys volleyball team captured 1st place at Rally Pointe. With a field of eight teams, it was both a demanding and exciting tournament. We had never played against many of the teams and so it was fun to figure out their strengths and weaknesses. After a strong round-robin performance in the morning and a healthy lunch at Freshii, we continued to serve, pass and hit on the volleyball court in the afternoon. Despite many ups and downs, we managed to remain undefeated. The final match against the Titans was very competitive and we required three sets in order

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to win gold. We would like to thank all the parents and spectators who came out to cheer us on and we look forward to league play-offs in mid-November.

ALUMNI OFFER ADVICE AT SPEED MENTORING EVENT On Friday, November 3, 2017, the STS Alumni Association hosted its 7th annual Senior School students and Alumni Speed Mentoring Event. Thirteen alumni mentored and advised Senior School students about what to expect in university, and the professional working world that follows post-secondary education. Our mentors represented various backgrounds that extended to engineering, medicine, law, accounting, investment, health, land negotiations, oil and gas, finance, business, entrepreneur, and public relations. Following the mentoring session, alumni and students were given the opportunity to participate in a mix and mingle reception, allowing them another opportunity to network with the mentors. Thank you to the following alumni mentors that advised our students about what to expect at university and the professional working world that follows post-secondary education: Rachel Bond ’97, Andrew Ferguson ’96, Jason Fong ’03, Ian Graham ’93, Adam Hoffman ’00, Rick Weissenborn ’88, Kristen Monzingo ’03, Eric Peters ’02, Faye Steinberg ’89, Dana Lougheed ’90, Margot McNeil ’09, Bo Jiang ’00, and Halley Carcasole ’04.

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