February 2009 - Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

Pocock Pride
Principal’s Message
Words cannot express how
pleased and proud I am to be leading
the Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary
School community. A year ago, I was
appointed Acting Principal while the
then Principal was on a sabbatical. Last
June, I was appointed to the position
permanently following the retirement
of Dr. Frankie-Deverell.
So here we are at the beginning of Semester 2 following an exciting and jammed-packed first semester. Although
many of the activities during the first semester happen every
year, there was a renewed sense of joy and active participation inspired by our wonderful Student Council and the
enthusiastic leadership of the staff sponsors and the wholehearted backing of the entire student body and faculty.
Our Thanksgiving Liturgies and food drive, Pocock
Idol, the semi-formal, spirit week and the pep rally, Stars
Night, Awards Night, Remembrance Day, the Advent Liturgies, Christmas Concert, Spider Jones Assembly and the
Co-op Job Fair were all well attended and added greatly to
the fabric of daily life at Pocock.
Our Christian Outreach programs — the Christmas baskets, the penny drive for Scott Mission, the retreats to Dr.
Simone’s Canadian Food for Children and, new this year;
WHO TO CONTACT
Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School
4555 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 1J9
Telephone ................. 905-602-6172
http://w3.dpcdsb.org/POCOK
Superintendent
Trustees Ward 3
Ward 4
Elizabeth McGuire 905-890-1221
Mario Pascucci
905-624-3663
[email protected]
Anna Abbruscato 905-602-5308
[email protected]
Principal
Henry Tyndorf
Vice-Principals
Sharon Bolger
Marija Burazin
the winter clothing drive — were all very successful due to strong
support by the students and the staff. Thank you to all.
Our extracurricular activities were all in full swing – choir, dance,
art, drama, volleyball, basketball, rugby, football, golf, alpine skiing.
Thank to the many staff who dedicate their time to keeping our
students active and engaged.
Over the summer, we began a number of physical changes to the
building but due the huge volume of improvement projects across the
school board, most of them were not completed until well into
semester one. The repainting of the hallways on the first floor and all
the stairwells has been completed. The redecoration of the Chapel
(new lighting, painting, new carpeting and new seating) has just been
completed. The workout room has been well used in its new 2nd
floor location – moved indoors from a 16-year exile in portable land.
The new dance studio sports a new, sprung hardwood dance floor,
full length mirrors and ballet barres; however, the new baseboards
and a fresh coat of paint are still to come. The stage floor was refinished
and the handrail on the stage stairs were replaced with new stainless
steel railings.
There are a number of other projects I would like to see initiated
to improve the building. After almost 17 years of heavy utilization –
day school and many years of night school, summer school and
Heritage Language on Saturdays – renovations are imperative. These
projects will all take time and money. The School Council raised enough
money last year to finance the renewal of the Chapel and, as a result
of the fundraising activity, the stage floor refinishing was completed
by two Pocock alumni at no charge to the school and the railings
were donated by the Khan family.
The School Council has launched a new fundraising program
this year. They are selling Gift Cards from many of the well known
major retailers that we all use every day – grocery store, gas stations,
restaurants, etc. We all shop, so why not buy a gift card first? They
spend just like cash and the school gets a rebate. Please refer to the
flyer inserted in this newsletter.
Lastly, I encourage parents to subscribe to the PhilipPocockInfo
email list. Please call the school and supply an email address where
you can receive information from the school regarding news and
events. Be sure to visit our Web page periodically – www.dpcdsb.org/
POCOK (that’s not a typo – our name had to be shortened to five
characters).
I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the entire Philip Pocock
community for your ongoing support of Philip Pocock. God Bless.
A-K
L-Z
School Council Chair – Vernon Ramlogan
.-*47)4; '
1557-
Pocock in the Santa Parada
Looking back over our Advent and Christmas preparations
our Chaplaincy Group was very satisfied how we kept
Advent his year. We focused on the music of Christmas all
three weeks of Advent with all the members of our group
commenting on at least three contemporary Christmas
songs. Our purpose was to re-connect the meaning of the
songs to the deeper meaning of how our society began to
celebrate Christmas in the first place – which was all about
the birth of Jesus and what His birth meant for our world.
We discovered that both staff and students saw perhaps in a
clearer manner the real meaning of Christmas through a
deeper understanding of the original Christmas. Our school
raised over $3000 for dinners at Christmas for the Scott
Mission in Toronto. Once again we were very generous
with the Christmas Baskets for families in our neighboring
parishes.
The Chapel was finally re-painted before
Christmas and as I write this the new carpet has been laid –
so with some stacking chairs to come we have re-decorated
the Chapel to be a very warm and bright place. Now we are
beginning our preparations for Holy and Great Lent.
Peace
Ross Oakes-Chaplaincy
The transportation technology program is growing stronger as more and more enthusiastic
students are enrolling for one or more of the courses offered at different grade levels. The students
have been focusing on different themes from grade to grade:
Grade 10 students spend time in the introduction and identification of major vehicle systems and
components, and basic repairs and services. They do most of the tasks performed by a first year apprentice in the field, such as changing oil, installing and balancing tires. They also work on small
engines and other projects.
Grades 11 students get intensive theory and operation of all vehicle systems. They support
their studies with lots of practical activities. Thanks to the staff and community members
who donated their old cars, there hasn’t been a shortage of cars or components to set up
Projects. Please continue to donate your old vehicles rather than sending them to the scrap
yard. The support you provide to your sons and daughters goes way beyond the dollar
value of the vehicles.
Grade 12 students have been literally running shop
with the main focus being diagnosis and repairs of cars.
They also work on estimating parts and labour cost; in
order to get exposed to the administrative part of running a shop. Many thanks to the staff members and
some parents who brought their cars for repairs. The students had plenty of opportunities to apply
the skills and knowledge they have learned. It is fair to say that many come out ready to join the
work force. Those who will go to college will definitely excel and find it easier.
Coming up in September 2009
With the new Technological Education Curriculum starting in fall 2009, there will be new opportunities with new additional courses.
Especially for those who would like to take auto as an interest course, there will be two additional courses offered:
Grade 11 Vehicle Ownership – focusing on options and futures of various vehicles; issues of registration and the legal
requirements affecting vehicle owners; vehicle financing and insurance; vehicle maintenance, emergency
procedures, and the responsibilities of being a vehicle owner.
Grade 12 Vehicle Maintenance – appropriate for all students as a general interest course to prepare them for future vehicle
operation, care, and maintenance or for entry into an apprenticeship program. The course introduces students to
servicing, repair and maintenance of vehicles through practical applications.
If you have any questions about the programs please contact Mr. Lijiam – Transportation Technology teacher at the school
DNA Fingerprinting with Grade 12 Biology
In November the grade 12 biology classes taught by Mr.
Mascarin and Mr. Maddock participated in a biotechnology lab
at the Ontario Science Centre. The students determined their own
DNA fingerprint from DNA (the molecule that contains the genetic
coding) extracted from follicle cells in the roots of their hair.
The specific technologies involved were DNA extraction,
Polymerase Chain Reaction (to clone or copy the extracted DNA),
Gel Electrophoresis (to sort the segments of DNA already copied)
and the Production and Analysis of the Gene Banding Patterns
(which comprise the “fingerprint”). These fingerprints can be
used to identify individuals and also can determine the specific
complement of gene combinations inherited from parents in the
sections of chromosomes extracted and studied.
Results for the classes were well above expectations with all of
the students obtaining results of high enough quality for analysis.
The usual rate is 60 to 70 percent for first-time attempts at using these technologies and speaks
well of the care used by our students in learning and performing the techniques.
In addition to the lab activities the classes were able to visit some of the exhibition halls at the centre making the day an
excellent experience concurrent and complementary to the biology course.
Your first step towards a positive and rewarding career can start with enrollment in
the Philip Pocock Hair and Aesthetic course.
The grade 11 course provides students with opportunities
to learn techniques in a hairstyling and aesthetics environment that meet industry standards, using appropriate
materials and equipment. Students identify trends in the
hairstyling and aesthetics industry, describe the scientific
and physical processes used in beauty services, learn to
respect environmental, health and safety laws, and explore
career opportunities. It is required that students practice
their skills on mannequins.
The grade 12 course builds on the grade 11 course to
provide a solid foundation for students wishing to pursue a career in Hairstyling and
Aesthetics. Students continue to develop practical skills and knowledge pertaining to
the beauty industry. They also gain awareness of the entrepreneurial skills required to
own and operate a salon. It is required that they fully participate in the classroom “salon” on clients or mannequins.
Philip Pocock is proud to have the first Hairstyling and Esthetics Pathway course in Dufferin-Peel. Who can benefit from a
pathway course? Students who are interested in a career path following high school, who demonstrate an aptitude for
hands-on problem solving, and those pursuing a college destination.
A pathway course can provide an entry level opportunity designed for students to participate in
an experiential learning environment. This creates a positive learning experience which encourages
students to continue to develop their skills. Community businesses partner with the Pathway
curriculum to support and develop entry level certifications. Once students celebrate success with
their pathway, they are encouraged to develop an academic foundation for their profession.
There are many exciting and rewarding opportunities when choosing your career path. A career in
Hairstyling and Aesthetics can combine your love of fashion and style in a creative and artistic outlet.
On Wednesday, December 17,
2008 over 65 students from
Madame Donahue’s, Madame
Polin-De Luca’s, and Madame
Taylor’s senior French classes
attended the production “Molière”,
an original play by Sabina Berman,
translated by Shelley Tepperman
and performed at the Tarragon
Theatre in Toronto. The play
examined at the relationship between
Molière and his rival Racine.
Students saw first hand the religious
intrigue which thrived in the court of
Louis XIV and the rapport that existed between two of the greatest
playwrights of French Literature.
We also had the pleasure of sharing
this experience with our Student Teachers; Ms. D. Di Croce from OISE (U. of T.) and Ms. E.
Estrela from D’Youville College.
For many of the students, this was their first
experience at the theatre and they found this
excursion to be a rich and rewarding cultural
experience that transported them to another time
and place. The actors managed to present a
perfect mix of French and English leaving the
audience in little doubt of the subtleties of the
content of their lines. The question and answer
period that followed was informative and
entertaining.
The theatre group was also
impressed by our students as their responses to the play demonstrated great
depth and understanding as well as a genuine enthusiasm Our students
represented Pocock in an exemplary way.
The theatre performance was preceded by a culinary experience at the Richtree
Restaurant (a.k.a. “Le Marché”), where students were delighted to partake in
Richtree’s traditional French and Swiss cuisine. It was a day that was enjoyed
by students, student teachers and teachers alike. À la prochaine….
On Tuesday, November 9, 2008, Signora Polin-De Luca’s
Grade 10 Italian Class had the opportunity of visiting CHIN
Radio Station. We had the pleasure of going on this excursion
with Signorina D. Di Croce, a teacher candidate from OISE
(U. of T.) Ms. Di Croce used to work at CHIN Radio Station and
in fact used to be our tour guide when we visited the radio
station. Students saw first-hand how radio shows were done.
They also had the pleasure of meeting a sound technician who
was a Pocock graduate. After observing a morning show, they
had the opportunity of going into a sound studio and taping a
brief message from Pocock. To be more precise, they wished
all the listeners “Buon Natale a tutti da Philip Pocock!” The
short announcement went on air during the Christmas
holidays. After our visit, we went over to Giovanna’s Trattoria
where the hostess / owner of the restaurant presented us with
a variety of different flavours that appealed to all of our senses. What a culinary treat - the dishes presented before us
looked great, smelled great and tasted great! A special thank you to Ms. D. Di Croce and Ms. M. Goulart (Pocock Alumni and
Volunteer) for sharing the experience.
On Thursday, November 13th, 2008 students in Signora Polin-De Luca’s
Grade 11 Italian class had the opportunity of attending a play entitled
“Bressani”. The play was presented by the Pirandello Society and was a
historical drama about the first Italian Jesuit in North
America.
This drama was presented as part of the many activities
that celebrated the Centenary of the First Italian Church
in Toronto, Our Lady of Mount Carmel (1908-2008).
The play gave way to profound thought and the day was
enjoyed by all. Special thanks to Ms. D. Di Croce
(Teacher Candidate from OISE—U. of T. ).
In the spirit of Christ and the Philip
Pocock community, Mlle. Drudi’s
Grade 9 French classes have created a
prayer based on personal intentions and
a reflection of gratitude to the Lord. We
hope this daily prayer brings an
abundance of shared peace, happiness,
and love to our school.
Une prière pour toujours
Bonjour Dieu,
Merci pour la nourriture, nos familles,
nos amis et pour Jésus, ton fils unique.
Merci pour la liberté, l’égalité et la paix.
On
Monday, December 8, 2008, Madame Donahue’s Grade 9
Extended French classes celebrated the 100th anniversary of the
Montreal “Canadiens” hockey team by going on a field trip to the
Hockey Hall of Fame.
Merci pour les fêtes, l’environnement,
la communauté et notre éducation.
They were accompanied by Monsieur Doherty, a lifelong fan of the
“Habs”, as well as by our student teachers, Mademoiselle Estrela and
Monsieur Hannelas. Students were able to view a number of exhibits
showcasing the long and colourful history of the Canadiens including
memorabilia from such hockey
legends as Maurice Richard,
Jean Beliveau and Guy Lafleur.
The museum visit was followed
by lunch at the Richtree
Restaurant (formerly Le Marché)
where students enjoyed such items
as crêpes, rosti potatoes and bowls
of café au lait.
Protège les personnes qui ne sont plus
ici avec nous.
The staff and students of the
ESL department have had a very
busy year so far. We’ve had
many newcomers register since
September and we’re delighted
to have them here. We would
like welcome The following
students to the Philip Pocock
community. We wish them
happiness and success in everything they do.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Donne le courage aux enfants qui n’ont
pas une maison.
Aide les gens qui ont besoin de force;
les pauvres personnes et nous les
pécheurs.
Nous prions aux anges qui nous gardent
pendant les moments difficiles.
Nous attendons le jour où le ciel sera
plein d’ étoiles et d’amour.
Agudelo Arias, Santiago – Colombia
Altamira Olvera, Ana – Mexico
Altamira Olvera, Gabriela – Mexico
Bermudez Galvis, Juan – U.S.A.
Borras, Jana – Philippines
Duenas Bedoya, Juan – U.S.A
Gallego Gomez, Daniel – U.S.A.
Kloss, Felix – Germany
Paiero, Mario – Italy
Taher, Dina – Jordan
Whitely, Dushane - Jamaica
~ Les classes de français
en neuvième année de
Mademoiselle Drudi
successful and sparked a new interest in next year’s very
keen newcomers to Pocock. A special thanks goes out to the
patient and dedicated music students who volunteered their
time to make this huge endeavor possible.
It’s that time of the year where students will be filling out
their course selection forms for the upcoming school year.
Once a student has taken an introductory music course at the
grade 9 or 10 level, there are many different paths they may
choose in order to continue with their musical experience
here at Pocock. Many students continue with the program
over their 4 years in high school. We even have students
This semester’s beginner instrumental music classes are
who make it possible to be involved in 3 different music
working diligently and are continuing to learn to play their
instruments. We have gone from our simple methods books courses by the time they get to grade 11! Wow! That’s
and moved forward onto “real music.” This has excited the amazing. However, if your child has not taken any introduckids and in turn, they have become very motivated to learn tory courses and is showing interest in participating in the
challenging music. According to our grade 10 and 11 music music program, please call the music department to find out
how this can be done. Anything is possible if the desire is
classes this semester, “music class is the place to be!” We
continue to strive for excellence while having lots of fun in there!
the process!
Special Recognition:
In this semester’s vocal class, we have focused on many
Thank you to all of the instrumental music students from
challenges including singing in 2 and 3-part harmony. We
this semester for performing at the Grade 8 Information
continue to prepare music for a variety of school celebraNight! Congratulations members of the Jazz Band under the
tions and concerts. We are very proud of our singers this
direction of Livio Delgado-Granda for your debut
semester. We even have some wonderful male voices that
performance at this year’s Christmas Concert!
have joined us this year! We look forward to participating in
Congratulations to all music students who successfully
Dufferin Peel’s second Vocal Festival in March. Detail to
wrote and playing in the RCM Winter Exam session!
come in the next newsletter!
In the midst of first semester, music continues to be on at
full blast and for some reason, the stop button is nowhere to
be found! Here’s a quick update of what tunes have been
playing…
This year’s Remembrance Day Services took place on November the 11th, where our Pocock community gathered together to commemorate the lives of many. During this service, our vocal group performed 2 musical selections that
were well received by the audience. Thank you to Livio
Delgado- Granda and Taylor Van Valkenburg for performing “The Last Post” and Taps.”
Get involved Pocock! Come out and join the music
deparment and begin to create great memories!
L. Kohut
Music Teacher
On Wednesday, December the 17th, this semester’s music
classes participated in the performance of the famous musical, “The Sound of Music” which played at the Princess of
Wales Theatre. What an amazing performance! We all had
to control our urges to sing out loud with the performers.
What a memorable afternoon! It’s always fun to go downtown with great friends and teachers. Right guys?
Thursday, December 11th, two great shows, two great audiences.... Pocock presented its Annual Christmas Concert.
During the day, we put on a show for the students at Pocock.
That evening, our show was performed for our Pocock community, family and friends. Also that evening, we hosted our
Annual Silent Auction which was a great success. Thanks
goes out to all of the teachers, performers and student volunteers who made this event a success.
We have continued to promote music education by offering
feeder school workshops for the fifth year in a row. Grade 8
students from our 5 feeder elementary schools have come to
Pocock and have participated in a great opportunity where
students learned the basic elements of setup, playing and
caring for various instruments. These workshops were very
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Royal Canadian
Legion Writing and Poster Competition. Paola Poblete, from
Madame Polin-De Luca’s Gr. 11 French class won 2nd prize in
the Essay Writing Competition and Gavin Crasto, from Mr.
Kevork’s Grade 12 Math class won 3rd prize in the Senior Poster
Competition. They received their awards on December 1st, 2008
from the Canadian Legion representative, Alice Dodds.
The students of Art teacher, Mrs. Seaman have accomplished very much in
theory and studio this semester. The grade 12 class studied Modern Art styles
such as Expressionism and Surrealism. Their unique images were displayed in
the Atrium Showcase.
The grade 9 class enjoyed making clay sculptures which they painted before
exams. They designed a personal Art Folder in order to store and care for their
original images.
The Planning for Independence (PIP) students
had a wonderful Art show at St. Joseph’s school
this December. Their
beautiful artworks were on
display for all the schools
of Dufferin-Peel to enjoy.
The students also designed
Christmas cards and
second semester they will
be designing an every
occasion card.
Miss McKay’s photography classes enjoyed a recent field trip
to the Metro Toronto Zoo. They applied their skills in
composition, camera angles and lighting styles to capture
images of a large variety of animals. It was a fun excursion.
Students had the opportunity of honing their dark
room skills and perfecting their black and white prints of
Pocock architecture, school grounds, still life objects and
portraits.
A final research project involved choosing an
influential photographer and creating an information board that
dealt with the artist’s life and works.
Happy New Year from the English Department:
As the Semester I ends and Semester II begins, the English Department looks forward to continuing a successful and productive year for all of the students
of Philip Pocock.
Winter Survival Packs and the Romero Justice Group:
The Romero Justice Group of Philip Pocock, under the auspices Ms. R. Curran is launching an initiative to prepare Winter Survival Packs for the homeless
of Toronto. Through the English department, students are asked to donate any second-hand items in good condition that will help this cause. We are looking for backpacks, shoulder bags, winter clothing such as gloves, mittens, shoes, boots, blankets, sleeping bags and warm sweatshirts or sweaters. Full
details are available from any English department teacher or any member of the Romero Justice Group.
Grade 8 Parents Night occurred on Thursday, January 15th, and it is hoped that the information provided and the physical setting toured allowed students joining the Philip Pocock community to feel comfortable with their new school. Mr. P. Kay, Mrs. E. Bragg and Miss M. Niewiada were on hand to
welcome parents and students and to answer any questions.
Rant and Rave Newspaper:
The school newspaper the Rant and Rave, run by Mr. R. VanZutphen, continues to provide essential reading for the Pocock community. All interested
students may see Mr. VanZutphen anytime in Room 333 for information on meetings and how to get published.
In the world of Pocock Dance and Drama:
Pocock dancers have been dreaming about a dance
space for years. It finally happened this year! Room
218 has been transformed into a professional dance
studio with a sprung floor and mirrors. Philip Pocock
is currently one of the few schools in DPCDSB with a
professional dance studio. The dancers, although
awaiting finishing touches to be made in their studio
are enjoying the space immensely!
Following the very successful Christmas Show
involving over 80 participants, Miss M. Niewiada
continues to lead a very successful and vibrant Dance
Program. Miss Niewiada is helping ready her Dance troupe(s) for some upcoming Spring Concert and So You Think You Can Dance. Do not miss these
events as they’re going to be hit!
Christmas Concert:
The preparations for the Christmas Show began in September with auditions for the dance ensembles. Dancers rehearsed for nine weeks under the direction of Mrs.E. Bragg, Ms. D. Gotal and Mrs. M. Niewiada. There were six dance ensembles: hip-hop, jazz, latin ladies’ shine piece, latin couples’ piece,
modern, and tap who entertained their audiences with remarkable talent.
In addition to the dance ensembles, Ms. Niewiada’s grade 10 dance classes, 9/10 drama class as well as Mr. P. Kay’s senior drama class were all involved
in the Christmas Show. Mr. Kay’s Grade 11 drama class presented a self-penned (and soon to be classic) presentation, The Legend of the Mistletoe. Lana
Velickovic authored the initial script and it was developed and polished by the class as a performance project.
All actors, dancers and their directors put a tremendous amount of effort into creating a successful show! The result was just that!
Semester II will hopefully see another opportunity for Drama students to travel to Second City. It is hoped that parents of all Drama students will support
this initiative.
The Grade 10 OSSLT Literacy Test is scheduled for Thursday, April 2, 2009. Parents of Grade 10 students are encouraged to be involved in this test.
The OSSLT is a large-scale assessment written by all Grade 10 students in Ontario public and separate schools. The OSSLT has been in place since 2000. Its purpose
is to assess the reading and writing skills attained by all students who have completed the Grade 9 curriculum. The test is set by the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), an arms-length agency of the Ontario Ministry of Education. It is important to reduce the anxiety that many students feel going in to the test.
Be informed of the requirements of the test, visit the EQAO website [www.eqao.com]; it is a fine website with Teacher, Parent and Student sections containing all
information anyone could possibly need for the upcoming OSSLT. Make sure your son or daughter is well-rested and able to read, write and respond well on that day.
The Philip Pocock Literacy Committee, ably represented by Miss R. Curran from the English Department, is doing a good job of ensuring that the students are well
prepared for this important and required initiative. This year, Philip Pocock is providing all students with a copy of the book Don’t Panic: More Practice for the
OSSLT. This book includes Reading Practice, Writing Practice, Grammar Information, Tips and Terms and Assessment Rubrics.
Writing Contests:
There are currently many opportunities to enter Writing Contests sponsored by many community, provincial and national groups. Our students have been
very successful in the past under the guidance of Miss R. Curran who ensures announcements are made, deadlines are met and requirements met. Mrs. C.
Fitzpatrick is also an enthusiastic supporter and coordinator of all Writing Contest endeavours.
A good example of the most current invitation to students to enter a contest is for the 50th anniversary of the United National General Assembly adoption
of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, a document outlining the innate rights entitled to children. All Pocock students have the opportunity to participate in Write the Wrong 2009, a nation-wide high school essay competition on Childs’ Rights.
All of the above events and activities demonstrate some diverse involvement in the school life of Philip Pocock. We encourage students to continue to take
creative initiatives in all of the opportunities provided. Through language and the arts, students are expressing themselves and exploring the world around
them.
Data Management Embraces Technology – The grade
twelve data management course has a new home; a classroom
with a computer for every student! The students and teacher see
this as a great boon, enhancing the learning experience for the
students tremendously. This represents another leap forward in
integrating technology in mathematics, adding another element of
technology to the already widespread use of graphing
calculators in the classroom.
As of January 21st, 2009, smoking in
vehicles with children less than 16 years of age
will be against the law. This amendment to the
Smoke-Free Ontario Act protects children who
are especially vulnerable to the health effects of
second-hand smoke.
EQAO HELP! – In what is becoming a Pocock tradition,
Why is Smoke-Free Car Legislation Important?
EQAO help classes are being held again immediately after school.
The program is once again very well received by students who
find the classes very helpful when writing EQAO and their final
exams.
Advanced Placement Math Program Success
Feedback from former advanced placement (enriched) program
students who are now attending university is starting to flow in
and the news is excellent. These students are reporting relative
ease in their university math courses because they took the
advanced placement math courses at Pocock. If you are a strong
math student and are considering post secondary studies in
mathematics, it is in your best interest to very seriously consider
signing up for advanced placement.
• Children are especially vulnerable to the
harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
• Children exposed to second-hand smoke are
more likely to get ear infections,
bronchitis, pneumonia and other respiratory tract
infections. It can also trigger
or worsen asthma.
• Second-hand smoke can reach very high
levels inside small spaces like vehicles.
• There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke for children or adults.
Call 905-799-7700 or visit www.smokefreepeelregion.ca for more
For the 4th straight year, Philip Pocock Model United Nations attended the Secondary Schools' United Nations Symposium (SSUNS) in
Montreal. SSUNS is Canada's premier high school conference, bringing together over 1000 students from around the globe.
This year’s theme was “Envisioning a Sustainable Society”, addressed the importance of long-lasting, realistic, global solutions to issues
affecting the international community.
This year’s keynote speaker was Marc Garneau, who delivered an inspiring speech about sustainability. He was astounding, first reflecting on his experience as an astronaut and then urging us to take responsibility for our planet.
Pocock students, representing Macedonia, Slovakia, and Uruguay, debated a long range of topics, including environmental issues, security,
the economy, international development and health policy. Through their research and debate, our delegates became more informed
about ways in which they can affect change locally and globally.
Beyond the busy committee sessions, delegates had the opportunity to tour the vibrant city of Montreal, visiting the Old Port, Rue St.
Catherine, Notre Dame and Mc Gill University. The weekend ended with a delegate dance, where students networked and socialized
with students from all over Canada and the United States.
Special recognition goes to Joel Upsdell, Jenn DiPaolo and Andrew Maruzek, who as Model UN veterans, gave leadership and guidance
to the rest of the team.
Congratulations to Lisa Smith, Jilian Szacki, Sam Kagan, Kristina Rozintseva, Sarah Schmied, Andrew Mazurek, Anne Staszczak, Madeline
Dodds, and Taylor Van Valkenburg, who represented Pocock proudly.
If you wish to learn more about Model UN, please speak to Ms. Alvero or attend our weekly meetings starting next semester. They will
be held every Monday after school in Rm. 307.
The senior team had high hopes going into the 2008 season,
and did not anticipate the struggles they would face. After
starting the season with 2 wins, the Pirates received GTA
recognition with a 9th, and then 7th rank respectively, in the
Toronto Star High School Football Poll. During those
games the “injury bug” would hit the Pirates as they lost 4
starting players to injury and two to illness. The coaching
staff and team worked hard to shuffle the lineups and
strategies and the team was very competitive despite
dropping the next two games and tying another. With their
playoff lives in the balance and the injured players slowly
returning, the Pirates defeated Meadowvale in the final game of the season, to finish third in their division and earn a quarter final
berth. Trying to shake off the rust and at almost 100%, the boys dropped a hard fought quarter final 19-14 to end their season. The
coaches were extremely proud of the dedication and commitment shown by the team, in the midst of many difficult challenges. Mr.
Sikic would like to thank community coaches and Pocock alumni Jim Soultanidis and Michael Sesek for all their time and effort
coaching the team. Football is a sport that expects a lot of personal time and dedication. We practice everyday for 2 hours for up to 3
months. For the 2nd year, Pocock football has honoured some of their athletes for their 4 or 5 years of service.
4 STAR AWARD
Marco Ciprietti
Andrew Feshnets
Yurij Marchyshyn
Omar Morales-Garcia
Victor Tin
Christian Renz
5 STAR AWARD
Irek Piekarski
Jason Walker
Emerson Taruc
Erickson Taruc
COACHES AWARD
Mike Wlodarczyk
With only ten players returning from the previous
year, the 2008 Jr. Pirates were facing another
rebuilding year. With many new players the Pirates
faced a tough start to the season as they had to face 3
of the top 4 teams in the league. Although they
dropped those four games, improvement was seen
each week. This improvement would lead to the team
winning 3 of their last 4 games and fighting for the
final playoff spot. In those wins the team was led by
veterans Steven Arbuthnot, Chris Ruiz, Cesar
Ceniceros, Kris Baily and Nicholas Mercurio. The 2008 season also saw the emergence and bright futures of Patrick Brzostek, Dillon
Quirt, Nick Wasylyk, and Korey Wolkensberg. Mr. Sikic would like to thank Mr. Radic, Mr. Anisko, and Paul Kupicz for all their
help coaching the team this past season. Special thanks to Mr. Policelli, Ms. Finelli, and all those students and parents who helped and
supported both teams.
Purpose: The Philip Pocock Black and Gold Athletic Fund was established in 2008 to provide the means for current and past Philip
Pocock athletes and supporters to provide monetary donations that will ensure the future success of Pirate Athletics.
Mission Statement: The mission of Philip Pocock Athletics is to create a dynamic environment that promotes competitiveness, spirituality, teamwork and self-discipline. Philip Pocock is committed to the philosophy that academic excellence and athletic excellence are
mutually compatible. We strive to provide a quality experience for all student-athletes in the Roman Catholic tradition. We are committed
to building character, developing responsibility, and promoting sportsmanship, which will become life-long traits.
WHO STARTED THE FUND
Mr. Anisko, Ms. Finelli, Mr. Sikic, all current teacher-coaches and former Athletes of The Year at Philip Pocock CSS,
and Mr. Radic the department head of Physical and Health Education.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Please contact Mr. Anisko at 905-602-6172 ext. 69185
Credit Recovery Program
This semester, a number of our “at risk” students were able to obtain credits through our Credit
Recovery Program. The program assisted and supported students who had previously experienced failure in
their courses. Our period two credit recovery class consisted of over 15 students from grades 10 to 12, who
were recovering courses in a variety of subject disciplines. The majority of the students were able to set and
achieve both personal and academic goals throughout the semester.
Many of the successful practices developed by the students in credit recovery,
such as consistent attendance and improved work habits, were carried over to
other subject areas. Participants in the program appreciated the small class
size, the constant monitoring provided by their teachers and the sense of community that developed within the class.
Mr. Mezgec and Ms. Skinner would like to congratulate the pupils in the period two Credit Recovery Class for their ability to overcome personal challenges, their perseverance among adversity and the students reengagement to school life.
Lunchtime Credit Recovery
Credit Recovery was also delivered through student lunches. Students enrolled in a full timetable consisting of four courses were given an opportunity to recover a previously failed credit during their lunch.
Some students elected to take a shortened lunch to come in and complete assigned work.
Student admittance to the Credit Recovery Program is typically done through teacher, guidance counselor
or administration referral. Student cases are reviewed and considered individually upon referral. Student
marks, attendance, behaviour, age appropriateness and credit accumulation are some of the factors that are
considered in determining student admittance.
Mission Graduation – June 2010
Philip Pocock C.S.S is involved in a Ministry of Education directive that focuses on
“supporting the needs of students from the grade 11 (year 3) cohort.” Student Success Teams
will be identifying 20 students in the grade 11 year who are not on track for graduation in June
2010. These will be students who are currently credit deficient and who are at risk of not
graduating with their cohorts or at risk of leaving school without graduating.
Upon identification of these students, the Student Success Team will provide a plan involving
prevention and intervention strategies. The strategies will be geared to support and assist these
students in obtaining their required credits and meet their goal of graduating in June 2010.
The Team has been busy contacting participating students. Parents will also be contacted either by phone and/or by letter. There
is Parent Information Night Tuesday, February 10 - 7:00- 8:00 pm in the school library. The meeting will highlight our
school’s preliminary action plan and provide a forum for parent questions and concerns to be answered.
Alternative Education
On December 12th, 2008 Pocock Alternative Education Program had the opportunity to take part in A.B.L.E (Adventure Based
Learning Experience) at the Silver Creek Outdoor Education Centre. A.B.L.E students participate in a wide range of activities to
achieve credit such as; Adventure Education, Environmental Stewardship, Community Development, Leadership, and Outdoor
Education. The day began with introductory activities that encouraged participants to get to know one another. Then our Pocock
students enjoyed a full day of high rope experiences facilitated by the A.B.L.E students themselves. If you are interested in the
A.B.L.E program or would like further information, please see the Guidance department.
OELC Student Voice Program
From October 2-4, 2008, 7 students from Philip Pocock participated in the OELC Student Voice Program. They engaged themselves in leadership activities such as rock climbing, low ropes, and group discussions. Through these activities students were able
to input their thoughts on how to improve their schools. This input was then brought back and discussed among teachers and principals in an attempt to change the school. The experience was up-lifting and students learned how to improve their leadership
skills. We thank the OELC for giving us the opportunity to participate in this program.
Students and their parents are now realizing that one of the most practical models for learning involves networking with
employers through Coop. Out of school placements allow students to use updated equipment and technology under the direct
supervision of licensed professionals. Our employers are so impressed with the quality of our students that they have “snapped up”
some of our most talented Coop students for employment. We would be pleased to help your son or daughter achieve the success that
they rightfully deserve.
The Philip Pocock Cooperative Education department has been an
exciting area to participate in for this 2008/2009 school year. Students
are all placed and are now being exposed to real work experiences.
Placements are varied and offer worthwhile opportunities in such areas
as: Education, Construction, Business, Restaurants, Computers, and
Fashion. Our department would like to welcome the following
businesses who are new to our program: Wintronics, Brittania Auto
Glass, Meadowlarke Stables, Ginas Aesthetics College, Hurontario
Dental Offices, ABC Drafting and Engineering, Hershey Center (Plant
Operations), Jiffy Lube, Chelsey Institute of Aesthetics, X-Police,
Cora’s, and
West Mall
Dental. We
will build your skills…
are working
together with
all of our
business community to make sure that our students are involved in a
worthwhile learning experience and that they successfully transition into
the workplace.
Get hands-on work experience…
Co‐op
Our teachers continue to help all our students on their career paths. We
work together with our business partners in providing apprenticeships and
employment for our students. This semester we have 15 students who are
registered for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program OYAP. These
students will be eligible for College subsidies and grants worth 80% of
their tuition fees. Contact the Coop office with any questions regarding our
programs at 905-602-6172.
Work one‐on‐one with a co‐worker in a program designed to meet your interests, needs, and strengths.
Congratulations to the following students for having been registered in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program:
Name
Trade
Sandra Care
Leo Orellana
Daniel Cierp
Alex Mantiguihan
Victoria Vant Wout
Rommie Faye Balana
Christian Barrante Pozzo
Roman Cullen
Miroslaw Kaczala
Karl Leger
Andrew Matys
Cabrini Moonasar
Ramon Naval
Josh Sukman
Teaching—ECE
Plumbing
Parts Technician
Carpentry
Cook
Teaching—ECE
Carpentry
Auto Service Technician
Teaching—ECE
Refrigeration and Heating Mechanic
Auto Service Mechanic
Auto Service Mechanic
Carpentry
Electrician
Course Selection for September 2009: Option sheets to grades 9, 10, and 11 students will be distributed the week
of February 2nd, 2009. Students will choose courses on-line this year by going to the website, www.dpcdsb.org .
Guidance counsellors will be visiting classes February 2nd, through to February 13th. Option sheets will be completed in homerooms and collected Friday, February 27th, 2009. Parents/guardians are strongly advised to become
involved with this process.
Grade 8 Parents Information
Evening 2009:
On Thursday, January 15th, 2009, our staff
welcomed the parents and students of next
year’s grade 9 class.
Our principal,
Mr. Henry Tyndorf,
greeted everyone,
followed by a short
power point
presentation that
outlined high school
diploma
requirements, levels
of courses and
general school
information.
Following this, parents and students were given a tour of the school.
Night School: Applications and flyers indicating course offerings and locations for night school
arrived in December and are available until February 2nd. The deadline for night school applications
is Tuesday, February 3rd. Please note, that placement in these courses is based on a first-come, firstserved basis, so do not delay!
University applicants were to have applications in to OUAC by midnight January 14th, 2009. February 6th, 2009, is the recommended last date for students to submit all information to the OUAC,
including the university and program changes, as well as additional active choices, to be eligible for
consideration for early admission. Changes will continue to be accepted and processed by the
OUAC after this date. May 25th, 2009 is the latest date by which all secondary school applicants can
expect a response from an Ontario university. It is strongly advised that you see your Counsellor and call the university for further information if you have any questions or concerns. If you do not receive any offers of admission, please go to the OCAS and / or OUAC website to view the programs that still have some availability.
College applicants: applications are due February 2nd, 2009.
Those college / university applicants who are taking a night school course or another credit course outside the
school, are advised to make sure that your Counsellor has been advised of your mid-term mark so that it will be
included for consideration by the colleges / universities that you have applied to.
Community Service hours are a requirement by the Ministry of Education for graduation. Please be sure that
you have submitted your community service hours to the Guidance Office as soon as the required 40 hours have
been completed, but no later than May 30th for those who have applied to college and / or university.
OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) information is expected to be available in early Spring at the following website: http://osap.gov.on.ca/.
Scholarships: students are encouraged to apply for scholarships if they fit the criteria and to create profiles at
studentawards.com and scholarhipscanada.com. Information about up and coming scholarships will be sent to the
student’s home email address.
March Break Campus Tours: many colleges and universities offer campus tours daily during the March Break
vacation. Please take this opportunity to visit potential schools while you have the time!
School Library Online
Staff
We’re online at http://www.dpcdsb.org/POCOK/School+Library/.
Any website is always a work-in-progress, so check back often!
B. Dillon - Teacher-Librarian
H. Roane - Library Technician
D. Young - Library Secretary
In Closing…
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about
the School Library.
Hours
Monday – Friday – 7:30 a.m. – 3:00- p.m.
raphic courtesy of OSLA
Program
written by Brenda Dillon, Teacher-Librarian
What a semester it’s been! I know I say this in every newsletter, but
it’s always true – we’re busier than ever! That’s good – exhausting,
but good.
I’ve been busy working with teachers to design research assignments, preparing Pathfinders to help the students find resources for
their assignments, and working with classes, groups, and individual
students. Research can be quite difficult and the wise students recognize this and ask for help.
This semester, unfortunately, there wasn’t enough interest from our
grade 9 and 10 students to run a period 3A Book Group, however,
our senior Book Group, in 3C, continues to meet each week. If
there’s enough interest, we can always get the 3A group going again.
The special funding provided by the board has allowed us to buy six
copies of each White Pine book, so we can actually offer the program this year! White Pine is part of the Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading Program. High school students across Ontario read ten new Canadian Young Adult novels and each student
votes (in April) for his/her favourite. The author of the winning
novel receives the White Pine Award. We’re trying something new
this year. Interested staff members have “adopted” novels. Students
will discuss the books with these staff members, who will then sign
their Reading Passports. Students who collect five signatures will be
eligible to vote.
Resources
This year, the board provided special, one-time funding to school
libraries. We received $12,000 for resources. So far, we’ve ordered
book sets for the White Pine and Golden Oak reading programs,
manga and graphic novels, fiction, and new science and Frenchlanguage encyclopedias. During exams, I hope to work on the nonfiction and reference orders as well as another fiction order. As new
books arrive, they’re added to the new books display, which has
proved popular. And yes, I’m always interested in suggestions from
students!
Special Events
On Monday, January 12, the students in Mr. Mascarin’s and Mr.
Maddock’s grade 11 Biology classes presented their work at the Research Matters conference. Research Matters is a collaboratively
designed research unit which serves as both a major semester project
(the poster boards, done with a partner) and the culminating assignment (the research essay, done individually). I’m marking the research process work and the documentation of sources (my subject
area!) and the science teachers are marking the science content (their
subject area!). Check out the article and pictures in this issue of
Pocock Pride!
The grade 11
University level
Biology classes,
taught by Mr.
Maddock and Mr.
Mascarin, have
spent the semester
working on a major
research project. For the semester project, the
students worked in pairs. Each pair was assigned a
research study. The students researched the topic,
examined and evaluated the study itself, and
considered the implications of the study.
The students presented their work at the Research
Matters Conference on
Monday, January 12.
Check out the pictures!
Working individually, the
students spent the week
of January 5-9 working on
their research essays,
which was the course
culminating performance
task.
Planned, taught, and assessed and evaluated
collaboratively by their science teachers and their
Teacher-Librarian, Research Matters was an
opportunity for students to improve their research,
critical thinking, presentation, and writing skills, as
well as become more scientifically literate, and better
prepared to judge the value of scientific research and
its potential application to their own lives.
Written by B. Dillon, Teacher-Librarian
Newsletter Coordinator & Layout Person: E. Polin-De Luca
Editors: S. Faroni, E. Polin-De Luca, S. Popowich, E. Selimovic, D. Donahue
February 2009