Pickering College Pillars

pickering college
s u m m e r 2015
PILLARS
the
m i n d
,
b o d y
,
s p i r i t
2
table of contents
Head Shots
4
Light The Way is Underway!
6
Educating the Whole Child: Mind, Body, Spirit 8
Student Life 14
Kudos 22
Residence Life 23
Athletics 24
Grade 8 Graduation and Kindergrads 25
Class of 2015 26
Alumni News 28
Passings 30
Alumni Reunions 32
Staff News 34
PCA Update 35
Three Cheers for Our Talented PC Volunteers 36
Upcoming Events 38
Vanessa Chiu, Grade 12
Pencil crayon on paper
3
4
Head Shots
MIND | BODY | SPIRIT
I
n this issue you will be interested to learn more about the long-standing
approach at Pickering College that has always made our school truly
innovative and, consistent with our Mission, a leader in education.
Embodied in the theme of Mind, Body, Spirit is the recognition that
successful teaching and learning is grounded in a belief that focuses on the
potential of each individual.
Today, with the introduction of our Global Leadership Program, we
continue to build on that belief to create the type of young people—
entrepreneurial, innovative, creative, open-minded and resilient—who will
be contributors to their community and who will offer their leadership when
the opportunity arises, whatever that might mean for them individually.
What has uniquely distinguished our school throughout our history is the
role that Quakerism has played in defining our approach to teaching and
learning. This includes the belief that there is a divine spirit in every human
being and therefore the belief that all human beings have equal worth and
dignity. At Pickering we often refer to this as “finding the light” within each
child—that inner potential that is waiting to shine upon the world. Hence,
Quakers believe that education is an ‘opening up,’ rather than a ‘filling up’
and we therefore work with each student to find and express their unique
qualities and passions.
We also seek to instil in our students the recognition that they must approach
the world in a similar way. This means using silence and stillness to search
for truth; it means a focus on simplicity, equality, peace and consensusbuilding. Quakers are known for leading purposeful lives and have made
major sacrifices for social justice. Staying true to these values means that
we want to be creating ethical, values-based social innovators who look
for the best in every person; who work to empower others; who have the
moral courage and capability to make informed and ethical decisions and
take purposeful actions that inspire others; who display a spirit of care and
compassion for those in the world who are disadvantaged or dispossessed;
and who have the courage to accept their ability and their responsibility to
change the world.
At the Closing Meeting for Worship each year, the well-known “Message
from an Old Boy” poses the following question:
False propaganda, age-old prejudices, hasty decisions and jealousies
are hard things to combat. But they have been combatted successfully
at Pickering. There you live with people of almost every creed, of many
races, of many tongues. Do the students of Pickering ever stop to think
why they can do this, while so many in other places cannot? I’ll bet
most of them don’t.
Although written decades ago, the same question could still be asked
today. The answer, I believe, lies in the pages ahead; a consistent focus
on academic excellence, physical resiliency and moral depth—Mind, Body,
Spirit. That is the heart and soul of a Pickering education.
5
REPORT FROM KELLY MASON, CHAIR
J
ust before school ended for 2014-2015,
I took some time to pause and consider
the construction underway for the
Dining Hall expansion. Work is steadily
progressing to add space for 100 more
students. The children in Junior School
have been delighted by the presence of
“mighty machines” out the window as
they eat lunch.
It is exhilarating to realize that this very
tangible step in the Campus Master Plan
is now reality.
Back in 2010, we outlined an exciting
future for Pickering College in our Strategic
Plan. And we have progressed through
that plan, from the implementation
of the Global Leadership Program, to
outdoor education, to finding our ideal
size, to a rigorous new financial plan
for the future, to providing exceptional
teaching and learning spaces. Past Board
Chair Ian Proudfoot was the architect
6
of that ambitious effort. He was fond of
saying, “If we don’t move boldly, we will
be in the same place, having the same
conversations about the future of the
school five years from now.” Thank you,
Ian, for encouraging the Board to make
these bold plans a reality. Look at us now!
Unlike many other
schools, family-style
dining, led by a teacher,
is an essential part of
the Pickering College
educational experience.
–Kelly Mason, PC Board Chair
The Light The Way campaign, which is
dedicated to raising funds necessary for
our campus improvements, captures so
much of the imagination of the strategic
plan. Funding teaching and learning
spaces means ambitious educational
plans can find a home. We are very
grateful that funding for the Dining Hall
is a priority for many of our initial donors.
As a Community, we must continue the
momentum through donating to the
Light The Way capital campaign.
The Dining Hall is a perfect start for
our campus improvement efforts. Unlike
many other schools, family-style dining,
led by a teacher, is an essential part of the
Pickering College educational experience.
It has been so since the implementation
of the advisor, or counsellor, system
developed by PC in the 1930s. The
opportunity to engage and interact, learn
table manners and share customs, the
opportunity for a teacher to note a
student’s needs or their achievements in a
casual and friendly atmosphere, provides
lasting value for child and parent alike.
The Dining Hall expansion broke
ground in early May and will be
unveiled at the Welcome Barbecue
on September 8, 2015.
IS UNDERWAY!
OF THE PC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The expanded Dining Hall will have
some much needed improvements, like
a vestibule with new washrooms, doors
outside to a future patio space, energy
efficient windows and walls, new air
conditioning and heating systems for
comfort, a sound system and a new
floor. However, the spirit and look of
the Dining Hall, built in 1966, remains.
We plan to dedicate the Dining Hall in
honour of an individual important to our
school, who started here as a student and
progressed to involvement in every facet
of Pickering. The naming will be unveiled
at the Welcome BBQ in the fall, followed
by a formal dedication during Reunion
Weekend 2015 (October 1–3). We hope
as many alumni and friends as possible
will return for this event!
But this is an article about Light The
Way—a $10 million capital campaign.
I am so proud to say that we have
raised $2 million from kind and generous
donors, including a lead gift of $1 million
from the Waters family.
Past parents Jim and Sheila Waters,
together with their daughters Maxine
’02 and Ellie Mae ’05, said simply that
they wanted to give back, to recognize
the good in Pickering, and to provide
for the school’s future. The Waters also
provided us with our wonderful CHOP
FM radio station in 2007 and Jim remains
Chair of the CHOP FM board. CHOP FM
plays a key role in teaching and learning
in our Global Leadership Program and
allows Pickering to play a leading role in
providing communications and media
education.
We have also received generous
leadership gifts from alumni, board
members, corporation members, staff
and parents. We have received giftsin-kind of construction materials and
essential advice and guidance. Adam
Floyd, current parent and Chair of the
Facilities Committee, seems to spend
most of his time these days in meetings
to move this project forward and his time
and effort have been Herculean.
So much is underway! We welcome your
support and feedback. Together with
Headmaster Peter Sturrup; Kim Bilous,
Executive Director Development; and
dedicated senior fundraising volunteers,
we will be in touch about your opportunity
to support the future of Pickering College,
your opportunity to Light The Way.
I hope you had a wonderful summer. I
look forward to seeing all of our current
families in September, and welcoming
our alumni and alumni parents in October
and during the school year.
You and your family are a part of Pickering
College’s history. Support the Light The
Way campaign and be a part of our future.
7
TO EDUCATE THE WHOLE CHILD—
MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT—IS WHAT
PICKERING COLLEGE HAS ALWAYS
DONE. IN THIS ISSUE OF THE PILLARS,
YOU WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW
PICKERING HAS SHAPED GRADUATES
OVER OUR 173-YEAR HISTORY AND
HOW WE ARE PREPARING FUTURE
GLOBAL LEADERS TO BE READY FOR
WHATEVER OCCURS, WHEREVER THEIR
LIFE JOURNEYS TAKE THEM.
8
EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD:
HELPING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED
THROUGH INDIVIDUALIZED LEARNING
Learning Services. “Joe was really ahead
of his time in terms of being forward
thinking and looking at the students as
a whole and not just compartmentalized
into educational pieces.”
Forgie’s grandfather, Harry Beer, became
Headmaster in 1953. Beer carried on the
philosophy and work that began with
McCulley.
P
ickering College has always prided itself on being a pioneer in education.
With our roots as a Quaker school stretching back over 170 years, we have evolved
with the times yet stayed true to the principles on which we were founded.
Fast forward over half a century—the
groundwork laid by McCulley and Beer
continues on, today. Individualized learning now takes shape as differentiated
instruction in the classroom and the students who need a little extra help have
the support of Learning Services.
After serving as a military hospital following the First World War, when the school
re-opened in 1927 it reaffirmed its commitment to character education with
a strong focus on individualized learning under the guidance of Headmaster
Joseph McCulley.
Differentiated instruction is responsive to
students’ readiness, interests and learning
preferences. It gives teachers flexibility to
meet the needs of different learners and it
offers students choice.
In the school’s prospectus, published in
1927, Albert S. Rogers, Chair, stated:
“It is recognized that it is impossible for
all pupils to proceed at an equal rate in all
subjects, and for this reason much of the
work of the school will be conducted by
the small group and individual method.
This system provides greater opportunity
for thorough teaching by the staff and a
fuller appreciation and understanding of
the work by the pupils.”
Individualized learning is an approach
to education that goes against the traditional school model of students adapting
to fit the environment. Instead, Pickering
College adapts the environment to fit the
students.
“Education is very different from mere
instruction,” McCulley once wrote. “It is
not just the ‘hammering in’ of a series of
facts but rather the bringing out of capabilities, innate and inherent, in every individual. Nor is it, as many insist, training
for life. Education is life itself.”
In this, and in many other respects, McCulley was ahead of his time.
“We were the first school to have a psychologist on staff,” says Stephanie Forgie,
In a note to students at the conclusion of
the school year in 1960, Beer wrote: “You
go to school for self-knowledge and for
the training of the mind through self-discipline, so that you may be of service to
mankind. The complexity of our society
today demands well-trained and highlyskilled minds. Each of you must therefore
develop his own potential to the full and
now is the time to measure your growth
in things of the mind.”
Differentiated instruction
is responsive to students’
readiness, interests and
learning preferences.
It gives teachers flexibility
to meet the needs of
different learners and it
offers students choice.
“Under his care, Pickering was often
thought of as a place where students
could go that maybe needed a second
chance and there are a lot of success stories out of that,” says Forgie.
“We now understand that excellence in
teaching comes from the ability of knowing each child’s strengths, their learning
preferences and areas they need to improve,” says Kimberly Bartlett, Director of
Teaching and Learning. “Faculty at Pickering College have had extensive professional development in accomplishing this
in their teaching. All of our faculty differentiate their teaching and assessments
to reach each individual child in the
classroom. In fact, our Global Leadership
Program is grounded in this philosophy.
Through our unique program, students
have the opportunity to strive and challenge themselves in a multitude of ways,
through their academics and co-curriculars. We believe in giving each student
their chance to shine.”
And shine they do. You just need to look
through the Student Life and Kudos sections in this issue of The Pillars to see
countless examples of how PC students
are striving to achieve.
But sometimes figuring out how children
learn best requires assistance from Learning Services. In recent years, the concept of having a learning disability has
emerged from the shadows and no longer carries the stigma it once did.
9
“I think the big thing is really understanding that to have a learning disability
is that it’s not a disability. You learn differently—end of story,” says Forgie, who
works with students in the Junior and
Middle School.
Learning Services helps students to identify how they learn best with one-on-one
attention. In addition, it ensures students
who are high achievers are sufficiently
challenged. It also teaches students to
advocate for themselves by speaking up if
they’re having trouble understanding or
not getting what they need to learn. By
doing so, the students feel empowered
which builds their self-confidence.
“It is teaching them how they learn best
and giving them very specific skills and
strategies that will enhance their learning,”
says Penny Lawson-Cameron, Learning
Services, who works with the Senior
School and teaches a learning strategies
class to Grade 9 and 10 students.
Bronwyn Andrews ’12 says before she
recieved help, she felt very frustrated
as some areas of study were not coming as easily to her as to the rest of her
classmates. “My learning experience at
Pickering was great!” says Andrews, who
currently attends Ryerson University,
majoring in psychology. “All of the [PC]
teachers were very supportive. Learning
Services also helped me to realize my potential as a student and to become my
own advocate.”
Pickering pioneered a commitment to
reaching all learners that is now incorporated into the wider education system.
Forgie says over the years she has been
approached by a number of Old Boys at
PC functions who have said how Pickering
helped them to accept and understand
the way they learn.
“Pickering was a wonderful time for
them,” she says. “I think it’s a combination
of firmness with affection and that’s
something we work really hard at fostering—not just Learning Services, but all of
our teachers. It all helps to feed into that
idea of forming these bonds and making
these relationships, and I think that’s
something my grandfather would have
been proud of, to know that is the direction
we’re taking.”
10
EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD:
OUTDOOR EDUCATION TAKES THE
CLASSROOM OUTSIDE
P
ickering College has always prided
itself on teaching outdoor education
skills that move students beyond the
classroom and out into the natural world.
When the school relocated to Newmarket
in 1909, thanks to a generous gift of land
from the Rogers family, it was situated
on 250 acres of wilderness that had a
working farm. As part of their curriculum,
students took part in everything from
helping at the dairy farm, to looking after
the pigs, to picking apples and working in
the vegetable gardens.
In the 1930s, at the initiative of
Headmaster Joseph McCulley and C.R.
“Blackie” Blackstock, Head of Physical
Education, senior students travelled to
week-long adventures at Limberlost
Lodge in Algonquin Park for days of skiing
and sledding. McCulley had previously
served for three years as Assistant Director
of the YMCA Boys Camp in Muskoka and,
with Blackie, instituted our long history of
outdoor education.
Junior students constructed “Myerstown,”
a replica pioneer village, on school property
in 1942. Outdoor projects included
navigation, archery (with bows and arrows
made in the shop, under the careful watch
of shop teacher and artist Rudy Renzius), a
fish pond and a vegetable garden.
Beginning in the 1950s, students in
Grades 7 and 8 also enjoyed camping
trips to the bush to “make a concentrated
study of conservation.” Overnight camping trips began under the direction of
W.H. Jackman, Director of the Preparatory
Department. In the 1960s, the program
moved from Limberlost to Albion Hills
School in Caledon.
“The body and soul are
sensitive in that they
require complete
harmony if we wish to
be successful and
benefiting to those
around us.”
–Ray McLellan ’67
From 1909 to 1982, the school property
was the “playground” for the local and
school community, with trees to climb,
rivers for tug-of-war competitions,
swimming holes to bathe in, forests to
play ‘capture the flag,’ fields to run in,
and hills to ski. Our annual Booker’s Run,
started in 1980 by French teacher Larry
Thornton, and named in honour of the
late Keith McLaren, former teacher, coach
and Assistant Headmaster at Pickering
College, was designed to make use of the
farmland at a time of the year when the
sports program was in a transition period
between fall and winter. Today, outdoor
education at Pickering College begins in
Kindergarten.
King Campus. In the fall, students in
Grades 4-6 participate in a day of outdoor
teambuilding and learn the importance
of following instruction and working
together to build confidence, through
large group games, canoeing and highropes challenge courses.
The ROC facility in Georgina offers our
students the chance to use a 10-metre
climbing wall, low ropes circuits and to
play teambuilding games that test their
decision-making, listening, attention and
collaboration skills.
Overnight camping experiences begin in
Grade 4 with either a fall or winter trip
to Bark Lake Leadership Centre. In Grade
9, students spend three nights at Camp
students braves the cold to complete a
three-night dogsledding adventure with
Chocpaw Expeditions. The trip is eligible
for the Adventurous Journey component of
all levels of the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
“Children and young people today are
moving farther away from the natural
environment,” says Tom Lewis, Pickering
College outdoor education specialist.
“They like to spend time indoors, close
to an electrical outlet. Even when they’re
with their friends they’re texting. Kids
benefit from unplugged time outside.
Children have a natural sense of adventure
and they are constantly asking questions
about everything, learning through
observation and testing themselves.
Young people need to be sensitive to the
environment in order to care for it. The
role of outdoor education is to connect
the children physically with the things
they are learning about in class; they can
study biodiversity right in front of them.
They see the interconnectivity.”
In nature, he says, students are
encouraged to stop, look, listen, smell,
touch and reflect.
“Students become reliant on one another
through outdoor teamwork. The annual
dogsledding excursion pushes the boundaries of comfort zones and that builds
character. There is a certain amount of risk,
but in a protected way. The more familiar
you are with your environment, the less
likely you are to abuse it,” Lewis says.
In 2012, Charles Boyd bequeathed his
beloved farm, Blue and Silver, to Pickering
and agreed to its immediate use for
outdoor education for students. Boyd still
lives on the property and our students
visit there regularly, building their understanding of nature and the outdoors.
Children are fascinated with making
the connection between food sources,
predators and prey, and ecosystems. At
Blue and Silver, we, again, have our own
dedicated space for children to explore
the outdoors and familiarize themselves
with the natural world, through nature
walks, snowshoeing and outdoor
photography sessions. Our students
can learn basic orienteering skills, how
to identify animal species and habitats
as well as different varieties of trees and
basic survival skills.
Beyond the farm, PC uses additional
local resources such as Seneca College’s
Another positive aspect of our Outdoor
Education Program is that boarding students
from densely-populated urban settings can
now experience wide-open spaces.
Tawingo in Huntsville and in Grade 11,
Geography students can take a three-day
camping and canoeing trip in Killarney
Provincial Park.
Outdoor education trips are open to all
Senior School students and provide the
opportunity to push their boundaries
and test their sense of adventure. Every
February, a group of Senior School
And the PC faculty have begun to tie their
classroom lessons to outdoor education
more and more. For instance, French
teacher Andrea Cleland recently had her
Grade 5 students compile a field guide in
French, based on what they saw at Blue
and Silver.
Through outdoor education, every student
in every grade has the opportunity for
experiential learning and to become good
stewards of the environment. “For the
students to become leaders in an outdoor
setting, they need the background education,
and we can provide that,” says Lewis.
11
EDUCATING THE WHOLE CHILD:
A COMMITMENT TO FINDING THE
LIGHT IN EACH CHILD
F
or the Quaker community, education
and the development of young minds,
bodies and spirits is a fundamental
priority. The Quakers opened schools as
they established settlements, including
our first location in West Lake, Ontario in
1842, welcoming children of any race or
creed, girls and boys.
Quaker education focuses on the
individual child, the commitment to
“finding the light” in each. This translated
at Pickering College to the overwhelming
sense that alumni share of being respected
and valued for who they were, what they
were capable of, and who they aspired to
be. This simple conviction sustains and
develops the spirit.
It also requires exceptional teaching
ability. Headmaster Joe McCulley was
brilliant at attracting talented teaching
staff, beginning when the school
reopened in Newmarket in 1927. Michael
Mackenzie, who was a tutor in 1945 and
who built lifelong friendships in his time
here, said: “Joe noticed. Nothing got
by him and he wanted to be sure every
student knew they had his attention. He
was the son of a cop and had absorbed
that ability to observe. We felt like he
was there for us.” Similarly, teachers like
Barney Jackson, Reg “Blackie” Blackstock,
Ran Ide, Harry Beer and shop teacher
and artist Rudy Renzius, all took a similar
approach to know and understand the
individual student. Sometimes that
meant showing them the correct path.
Fred Thompson ’44 and Bob Moffat ’44
tell a story of Barney Jackson, a beloved
Pickering English teacher and basketball
coach who went on to become the Head
of the English Department at McMaster
University. The boys were very good
basketball players and helped lead the
Pickering team to victory time and again.
12
The night before a final Ontario
championship game, Thompson and
Moffat slipped away from the residence
for a little taste of freedom. When they
arrived back at their room, Jackson was
waiting there for them. He reminded
the boys of the rules that the team
themselves had decided at the first of
the season, including that everyone had
to stay in and go to bed early the night
before games, or else they would not be
allowed to play. Knowing that losing his
two stars would likely mean losing the
game the next day, Jackson announced
to the boys that they would not play. The
boys were confident that Jackson would
change his mind, after all, the team was
just about to have an incredible victory.
The boys did not play. Pickering lost.
The wins that season may have faded
from their memories, but the two boys
never forgot the impact of that loss and
the lesson they learned from Jackson:
the value of integrity and keeping one’s
word, values that carried them both
through very successful careers, and
helped sustain their 75-year friendship.
Fast forward to the ’60s and ’70s, times
of great social change. Headmaster Harry
Beer did not vary from the Quaker model
of respecting the individual and he never
gave up on a student. He pioneered
teaching
methods
that
fostered
understanding of students’ different
learning styles, and a commitment to
understanding each student’s individual
needs. Charles Boyd, former teacher
and current alumni ambassador, says,
“Harry believed we had to find what he
called ‘that ray of hope’ in each student,
however it might manifest itself. He
saw value in building up the spirit, not
‘breaking’ a child’s will as was sometimes
the practice in other schools then. It was
difficult sometimes to follow through, but
so rewarding when we watched the boys
succeed. Now, when they come back,
they tell us what a difference those years
at Pickering made.”
“I grin inwardly when I think about
the incredible luck and good fortune
I had in being allowed to spend my
time wandering around the edges
of a first-class educational, if not
spiritual, institution. Pickering being
Quaker did not seem to matter
to me at the time… I was always treated
with a great deal of dignity and respect by
everyone at Pickering College for which
I will always be grateful, ” says Chuck
Barton ’70.
Beer’s granddaughter, Stephanie Forgie,
Learning Services, remembers her
grandfather for his gentleness, but with a
core of strength that helped build up all
around him. She says, “I learned so much
from my grandfather, especially that if
you can establish a mutual respect and
trust with your students you are able to
achieve a great deal together. This is why I
think our Morning Meeting time together
is invaluable.”
Major Jonathan Knaul ’87 of the Canadian
Air Force says of his Headmaster Sheldon
Clark, that “no school before had really
listened to me, about what I wanted in
my education. When my parents and
I came for our interview at Pickering,
after having visited many Torontoarea schools, Sheldon was the only
Headmaster who specifically wanted
to speak with me, to learn what my
expectations of the school experience
were. Others were focussed on my
parents. That feeling that I mattered here
We are proud to include a study
of Quakerism as part of the Global
Leadership Program, to work with the
Quakers of our local community, and
beyond as we reach out to Quaker
organizations and schools in the UK, in
Australia and in the US.
Students in Grade 10 now have an
exploration of Quakerism as part
of their curriculum. “Reflection” on
learning opportunities is an essential
part of the Global Leadership Program
teaching agenda, and the Quaker
Exploration Day was no exception.
Sydney Stevenson, Grade 10, reflected
on her learning experience and the
value of educating the spirit:
“...Throughout history Quakers have
saved so many lives, and this silent
leadership and courage is still present
in today’s society. Many Quakers are
still putting their time into current issues
here and abroad. They have so much
integrity, and always believe in and fight
for peace no matter what.
remained throughout my education,
and as an alumnus and PC Board
member, I still feel this way.”
While Pickering is no longer a “Friends
School,” as Quaker schools are called,
we stay true to the beliefs and ideals
deeply held by our Quaker founders,
combining academic excellence with
moral and spiritual depth. Finding
the light in each child, their individual
capabilities and talents, is still at the
forefront of our teaching methods.
I was very inspired by this. We got to visit
the Quaker cemetery later on, and see
the resting place of all of these people
who made such a silent impact on
history. Through each of these people’s
own simple ways, they followed Quaker
values and fought for peace, equality,
and so many other things. All of these
people were leaders. I have been really
touched by learning about this subject,
and hope to always follow the values of
a Quaker throughout the rest of my life.”
“Times of silence nurture and
connect us to the common
center of all that is, regardless of
our separate heritages.
At Pickering the daily Morning
Meeting silence is real … before
it is broken for announcements.
The peace encircles naturally as
the same people gather each
day. The leadership training is
not about general leading and
commanding. True leadership
training makes us more aware
of one another and able to
recognize each one’s gifts for
the accomplishment of greater
goals in society. This cooperative
and stronger effort also brings
individual happiness and
satisfaction, but as a by-product,
not the aim of activity.”
–Jane Zavitz-Bond,
former PC Teacher and Librarian,
Member of the Class of 1842,
Archivist for the Canadian Yearly
Quaker Meeting, and recipient of
the Lieutenant Governor’s Lifetime
Volunteer Heritage Award
13
STUDENT LIFE
What Did You Learn Today?
GRADE 4 GETS TECH SAVVY
Grade 4 students recently met with Mr. David Rosenberg, National Director of Intrepid
Investigations, to watch a flight demonstration of a sophisticated surveillance drone.
The students were excited to learn about the amazing possibilities of drone technology
and Mr. Rosenberg answered questions about flying cars, unmanned airplanes and
artificial intelligence.
GRADE 1 UNDERTAKES THE CLEAN BIN
PROJECT
The Grade 1 class participated in a Clean
Bin Project for a period of four weeks. Each
student became responsible for his/her
own garbage during the school day and
the project required the children to think
critically about the waste they create.
There were three winners: Dylan had
the fewest number of items in his bin.
Jason’s waste took up the least amount
of space while Maliha’s garbage weighed
in at a low 114 grams. All of the Grade
1s now understand the importance of
taking action, protecting their environment and will become the stewards of
their community.
14
GRADE 5 STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT
STRUCTURES
In the Grade 5 Structures and Mechanisms
Unit, the students have been learning
about the different forces that act upon
structures (e.g. tension, torsion, shear,
compression, buckle) as well as some of
the different types of bridges that exist
around the world today (e.g. arch, beam,
bascule and suspension bridges). This
activity has not only given the students
an opportunity to apply and develop
their critical thinking skills to build a
bridge collaboratively but it has also
helped them learn about working within
a budget and managing money.
KINDERGARTEN TREASURE HUNT
Yo Ho Ho! The Kindergarten and Grade
11 Geography students teamed up for a
GPS Pirate Treasure Hunt. The Grade 11
students embraced the challenge to plan a
geocache course around campus. In their
problem solving, the older students had
to design a safe course of appropriate size,
with enough variety in location to prevent
groups from following each other. They
also designed a paper map to back up the
technology in case of emergency. Guided
by a GPS, with treasure sacks in hand and
donning the signature eye patches, all of
the students headed outside to discover
buried treasure. The Grade 11 students
facilitated the learning for their younger
buddies as they taught them how to walk
in a straight line and follow the arrow on
the GPS to the desired spot.
The Kindergarten Pirates found gold and
silver crowns, gold coins, beaded necklaces,
bracelets and ring pops hidden in gold
shiny bags! The older students experienced
the joy of teaching someone else a brand
new skill and the younger
students returned
to the classroom
musing about
compasses, satellites
and the sky. It was a
wonderful afternoon
of leadership
and loot!
STUDENT LIFE
Hands On !
GRADE 7 BRAVES TERRIFYING
TOBOGGANS
Pickering College’s Grade 7 students have
put what they have learned about form
and function to the test with a real-life
design challenge. The students worked
in teams to develop blueprints for cardboard toboggans. They constructed their
devices and then subjected them to
a number of tests in the school’s first
Terrifying Toboggan Competition.
CRACKING THE CODE
Members of the Grade 12 Computer
Science class helped the Grade 6 students
complete “The Hour of Code.” This
initiative held during Computer Science
Education Week offers students of all ages
and ability the chance to try computer
programming. Students were able to
explore basic programming concepts
while solving puzzles, sword fighting and
defeating ogres. While only one hour was
completed in class, the game offers 20
levels of programming fun.
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSICS
Grade 2 was visited by Matthew RobinsonVincent of the York Regional Police (and
dad to Ethan). He spoke with the students
about policing and forensics. The students
also had their fingerprints taken.
HANDS-ON LEARNING WITH ANCIENT
ARTIFACTS
Grade 11 World History students
embarked on a journey to one of Canada’s
foremost cultural institutions, The Royal
Ontario Museum (ROM). This excursion
provided students with an opportunity to
see and work with the ROM’s collection
of Greek and Roman artifacts. Boasting a
collection of over 1500 rare objects from
Ancient, Classical and Alexandrian Greece
and over 500 from Rome, the ROM offers
students a unique learning opportunity.
Our students got to do something possible
at few museums—they were given an
opportunity to work directly with the
artifacts. Rather than discouraging handson interaction with historical treasures, the
ROM has created a workspace for students
to analyze primary source materials. These
materials, ranging from small votive objects
to an iron dagger, highlighted the diversity
of Roman daily life. The objects also gave
students an appreciation for the level
of detail dedicated to even the smallest
objects. Among the diminutive objects that
students examined was a tear catcher from
Ancient Rome. Mourners filled these novel
devices with their tears and placed them
into tombs to represent love and respect.
According to tradition, when the tears had
evaporated, the time of mourning was
over.
GRADE 10 CULTURAL EXPLORATION
The Grade 10 students completed the
second half of their Cultural Investigation
excursion project in Toronto in April.
The students participated in a walking
tour of the Spadina and Dundas area,
wandering through sites of cultural
significance including Ontario College of
Art and Design, Chinatown, graffiti alleys,
Kensington Market and the Anshei Minsk
synagogue. Our guide gave us the historical
context of each site as we stopped to look
closer. The day was capped off with a
debriefing session where students worked
together to analyze their photos and their
interpretations of what they saw.
QUAKER EXPLORATION DAY
The Grade 10 students engaged in a
Quaker exploration day as part of the
Global Leadership Program. The purpose
was to allow the students to investigate
their perceptions of Quakerism and its
role at PC and in the community. A highlight was the visit to the Yonge Street
Meeting House where students learned
about what Quakers are currently doing
in Newmarket in areas of social justice.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DEBATE: SHOULD
CELLULAR PHONES BE MANDATORY
FOR ALL CHILDREN?
This was the timely question posed to the
14 members of the Middle School Debate
Team who travelled to the Sterling Hall
School in January. Using a graphic
organizer and their critical thinking
skills, debaters were given 15 minutes
to prepare arguments for both sides of
this contentious resolution. PC students
brought forth a diverse set of points
concerning the impact of cell phones
on personal security, social relationships
and education, as they vigorously argued
both sides of the topic.
15
STUDENT LIFE
Showcase Your ManyTalents
PC MUSIC STUDENTS PLAY ROY THOMSON HALL
In April, 15 music students participated in the Conference of Independent Schools’
Music Festival. CISMF gives students from Independent Schools across Ontario the
opportunity to work together and combine talents in preparation for a final concert at
Roy Thomson Hall. Acceptance into the instrumental ensembles and the Senior Choir
are based on an audition in which students compete for a position in the band or choir
against other young, talented musicians from over 30 Independent Schools in Ontario.
Students in the choirs have the opportunity to work with an elite guest conductor who
prepares a grand finale with the students to finalize the fantastic concert and weekend
of music making.
Explore Your Many Options
TOWN OF NEWMARKET DISPLAYS PC
STUDENT ART
The work of four Senior School art students was on display at the Town Of
Newmarket Municipal Office during the
month of April. Pickering College was
one of six local high schools invited to
participate. The work of Betty Lu (Grade
12), Camille Kiffin (Grade 11), Karen Ji
(Grade 11) and Shannon Pang (Grade
10) was featured. A special Open House
took place in March, where Betty Lu ’15
was presented with a certificate from the
Mayor and the Council members for her
watercolour painting, “Untitled.”
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GRADE 10 CAREER CRUISING
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a helicopter pilot, a chef, an
architect, an interior designer, an actor or a nano-engineer? In January, Grade 10
students participated in Pickering College’s first Career Cruising Event. Mr. Louis
Anagnostakos gave an inspiring keynote address encouraging students to follow their
passions and to think outside the box when it comes to career paths. Students then
had the opportunity to hear from four diverse panels of speakers who shared their
personal stories and insights. The room was abuzz with conversation as students asked
questions and delved deeper into the world of work from these various perspectives.
STUDENT LIFE
Put it in Writing
STUDENTS DEVELOP CURRICULUM
FOR BOOK THE INCONVENIENT INDIAN
Seven PC students took part in developing
curriculum-based learning modules based
on award-winning author Thomas King’s
book The Inconvenient Indian. In April,
the students received a certificate in
recognition of their work.
The students, including Julianna Cook
(Grade 6), Jake Mevissen (Grade 7),
Meghan Beswick (Grade 7), Elexis (Lexi)
Charles (Grade 9), Julien Chretien (Grade
9), Patrick Prochazka (Grade 9), Sydney
Stevenson (Grade 10) and Brenna
Duggan-Smith (a Grade 12 student
at Rosedale Heights), were invited to
read the book and then participate in
several hands-on workshops facilitated
by professional educators and curriculum
developers.
“This is a part of our history that I had
never learned in school,” said 14-year-old
Julien Chretien, a Grade 9 student who is
part Ojibwa. “I hope that the work we’ve
done will help more students learn the
story of our First Nations people.”
“The book is done...it has its own life,”
says the book’s author Thomas King. He
went on to paraphrase Craig Kielburger
who, when defending King’s book on CBC’s
Canada Reads, stated how amazing it would
be if there were real, tangible learning
outcome actions inspired by this book.
“These students have been inspired and
these students have inspired me,” says King.
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PERSONAL
ESSAY COMPETITION WINNERS
In May, the winners of our annual Global
Leadership Personal Essay Competition
were announced. The winner of the Global
Leadership Personal Essay Competition
for Grade 9 was Nupur Krishnan for her
essay, Physician Assisted Suicide: Where
We Stand and the winner of the Global
Leadership Personal Essay Competition
for Grade 10 was Sydney Stevenson for
her essay, Their Story: The Story of the
Children Who Bring Us Chocolate.
The winners each received a first place
certificate and a book store gift card.
Their essays will also be published in our
annual student anthology, the Pickering
College Review of Writing.
in the contest. The winners include:
Modernization and Old Trees: Is It Worth
the Trade-Off? by Duong Bach Pham
(Vietnam); Overpopulation or, Perhaps,
Overestimation? by Nazariy Tymofyeyev
(Ukraine); Clean Water for Everyone by
Deniz Vural (Turkey); and Speaking of
Powerful… by Mariana Gonzalez (Mexico).
JOSHUA WEINZWEIG MEMORIAL
LITERARY AWARDS
Students whose work is published in the
Pickering College Review of Writing are
eligible to win the Joshua Weinzweig
Memorial Literary Awards. At the end of
the academic school year, one winner
from each grade (Grades 9-12) may be
selected at the discretion of the English
Department.
The winners received a first-place certificate from Pickering College, a $50 book
store gift card and publication of their
work in our annual student anthology,
the Pickering College Review of Writing.
Winners of the Joshua Weinzweig Original
Poetry Contest: Grade 9: Victoria Sharpe;
Grade 10: Izzy Darvay-Carnavor; Grade
11: Mandy Coleman; Grade 12: Jessica
Buckmaster.
The idea to convert King’s writings into a
curriculum-based learning program was
formed by K12 Global, a curriculumbased education developer designed to
provide teachers with free, downloadable
teaching materials.
“Our Global Leadership students
understand the importance of investigating
perspectives and challenging accepted
narratives,” said Julia Hunt, Director of
Global Leadership. “It is important to
apply these principles globally, but even
more crucial to look closely at our own
Canadian contexts and legacies.”
There were also a
number of international entries
Winners of the Joshua Weinzweig Postcard
Fiction: Grade 9: Patrick Prochazka; Grade
10: Iman Nooristani; Grade 11: Emily
Perkovic; Grade 12: Amanda McDougall.
17
STUDENT LIFE
Celebrate Your Achievements
PC STUDENTS SCORE WELL IN MATH
COMPETITIONS
We’re very pleased that our Grade 9-12
students participated in a number of
math and science competitions during
the school year.
Beaver Computing: Top 25 per cent
of contestants: Megan Robinson, Julien
Chretien and Vanessa Zykova. Canadian
Open Mathematics Challenge: Scoring
above average and earning an Honours
Certificate were Lucinda Yang, Kevin Tan,
Mandy Coleman and Alba Lu. Scoring in
the top 25 per cent of participants: Joe
Li and Patrick Prochazka (Patrick earned
the Bronze award for Grade 9 students in
central Ontario). Canadian Intermediate
and Senior Math Contests: Senior level—
certificate and school medal winner, Kevin
Tan, ranking 417th out of 4118 students
in Ontario. Intermediate level—certificate
winner Sophia Husein ranked 283rd and
our certificate and school medal winner
was Patrick Prochazka ranking 27th out
of 3197 students in Ontario. Pascal contest: Top 25 per cent of contestants: Ricki
Zhang, Hayden Spiers, Shuyan Dong,
Yiqu Ding, Kenya Kimata, Tony Zhang,
Sunny Qiu and tying as the school’s top
finishers Rictol Ren and Patrick Prochazka
who finished 272/10755 contestants in
Ontario. Cayley contest: Top 25 per
cent of contestants: Steven Sun, Sophia
Husein and the top finisher Teddy Ding
who finished 170/8336 contestants in
Ontario. Fermat contest: Top 25 per cent
18
of contestants: Amber Gocool and top
finisher Derek Qiu who finished 846/7239
contestants in Ontario. Grade 9 Fryer
contest: Top 25 per cent of contestants:
Rictol Ren, Kenya Kimata and our top
finisher Patrick Prochazka with a score of
38/40. Grade 10 Galois contest: Top 25
per cent of contestants: George Gong and
our top finisher Teddy Ding with a score
of 37/40. Grade 12 Euclid contest: Top
25 per cent of contestants: Joe Li, Vivian
Xin, Jessie Hu, Betty Lu, Patrick Prochazka
and our top finisher Alba Lu. The Michael
Smith Challenge: A very challenging
contest open to Grades 9/10 students
with Patrick Prochazka finishing in the top
10 per cent.
PC FINISHES STRONG AT WINTER
FULFORD
In late February, Polikon attended the
Winter Fulford debate, hosted at De la
Salle Oaklands. This was the third in a
series of four annual Fulford debates. This
time around, the debaters had to grapple
with whether Prime Minister Stephen
Harper deserves another term in office.
At the end of the day, in the junior division
(parliamentary) Sterling Mancuso took 1st
place out of a pool of 40 debaters from
20 CIS schools. Combined with Patrick
Prochazka’s 10th-place ranking, Pickering
College won 1st place in the parliamentary
division, bringing home a beautiful trophy.
In the senior division (cross-examination),
Grant Kavanagh also took 1st place out
of a pool of 36 debaters from 18 CIS
schools. Special mention goes to Polikoner
Christopher Nam, who had his work cut
out for him (not being a Canadian citizen).
He showed a tremendous amount of heart
to finish all three rounds.
MUNK TEAM: INCREASING FINANCIAL
INCLUSION
In the fall, five Pickering College students
joined the Global Ideas Institute Mentorship
Program, which is a partnership with
the University of Toronto’s Asian Institute
and The Munk School of Global Affairs,
in cooperation with University Toronto
School. The team of students was: Maurice
Berleth, Jessie Hu, Joe Li, Kevin Tan and
Samantha Tan. The problem they set out
to solve was how to increase financial
inclusion in India, particularly for the poor,
without increasing infrastructure.
Our team decided to implement financial
inclusion through a business model for
their “company” Abridged Finances with
the slogan “Banking Made Easy.” The
plan was to have their company act as
a connection between the people, who
often do not trust banks, and the banking
sector itself. As a part of their plan, they
even created a feasibility formula which
would calculate which areas in India
would best suit their services. They were
the only team to have designed this type
of framework to tackle the problem.
Our team were excellent ambassadors
for our school and their willingness to
take a risk, be creative, empathetic and
innovative in trying to solve a problem
such as financial inclusion that is so
important to the developing world.
STUDENT LIFE
Sharing a Wealth of Experience
GRADE 9 ENTERS THE PUMA’S DEN
For their Global Leadership project,
“Change Makes Cents,” the Grade 9
students recently entered the Puma’s
Den. This new initiative gave students
the chance to hone their leadership
skills by forming “consulting groups”
and creating plans to help companies
to become better citizens of the world
through social innovation.
The new initiative is part of the school’s
Global Leadership Program which ensures
students are equipped to understand
and address complex global issues
through a carefully-planned curriculum,
co-curricular opportunities, community
service, authentic experiential learning
opportunities, educational partnerships
and cross-disciplinary independent
projects.
The students made a pitch to help a
company or industry to implement a
social innovation that addresses a
Canadian issue. They presented their idea
to a panel of judges in a setting similar
to the television show Dragon’s Den. The
judges then decided which group gained
the support of the wealthy and influential
“Pumas for Change.”
Some of the ideas that were presented
included: testing cosmetics on lab-grown
cheek cells rather than on animals;
redesigning the iPhone to be more
environmentally friendly, efficient and
use recyclable products; and creating an
organization to address youth hunger,
teaching them the necessary skills to pull
themselves out of hunger and to build a
sustainable life.
GRANDPARENT AND SPECIAL FRIEND DAY
Pickering College held another wonderful Grandparent and
Special Friend Afternoon in May. Preceding the Springfest
concert, students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 had the
opportunity to invite their Grandparent and/or Special Friend
for a visit to the school. Guests were treated to a presentation
by the Grade 4 class about their experiences at Blue and Silver Farm. Jonathan Danigelis,
Danica Khanna, Hannah Kim and Elisheva Rosenberg did an outstanding job with the
support of their homeroom teacher, Alex Au Yong. Following their presentation, PC’s
Grandparent Chair, Ajit Khanna, spoke to our guests about the exciting renovations to
the Dining Hall, to provide more room for our growing student population.
LEADERS IN RESIDENCE:
Dr. Samir Sinha, Director of Geriatrics at Mount Sinai and the University Health Network
Hospitals in Toronto, spent the day with us in April. Dr. Sinha explored the connection
between evolution and aging with the Grade 11 Biology classes, connected demographics and aging for Grade 9 Geography, and even looked at what aging means for our
Grade 1 students.
PC welcomed Leader-In-Residence, Angela Tessier, in November. Angela gave a
stirring presentation to the Senior School detailing her positive experiences teaching
English in Northern Iraq last summer. Ms. Tessier also spent time with the Grade 5 class
exploring the story The Librarian of Basra, explored interdisciplinary perspectives with
the Grade 12 Leadership class and worked through case studies on teaching language
abroad with the Grade 9 English class.
In February, we welcomed dynamic entrepreneur and speaker, Sean Stephens, from
Treefrog multimedia web company. Sean engaged us all with his Morning Meeting
presentation on innovation in business, and spent time with students in a number of
different Senior School classes such as Grade 11 Introduction to Computer Science,
Grade 9 Business and Technology and Grade 11 Entrepreneurship.
19
STUDENT LIFE
Learning Across the G lobe
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAM: PC
LAUNCHES STUDENT EXCHANGES
2014 – 2015 was an exciting year for students interested in gaining understanding
of British culture: Pickering College initiated
an exchange with Brighton College, and
participants raved about the success of
the program.
PC EXPLORES: ICELAND
Thirteen adventurous students and four staff members had the unique opportunity to
travel to Iceland during the March Break. They braved the elements to walk/crawl in a lava
cave, hike a glacier, ride Icelandic horses and see some amazing geological formations
including volcanoes, continental plates, glacial lagoons, waterfalls and geysers. Iceland
makes extensive use of geothermal energy so with snow falling they enjoyed swimming
in warm outdoor pools and hot tubs. This was indeed a memorable trip.
Our students hosted their partners in
December for the two weeks leading up
to the Christmas holidays. The British
students saw the magic of winter in
Canada and even experienced a snow day.
Our students went beyond expectations
in ensuring that their guests had a wide
range of experiences in Canada: they
cheered on the Toronto Maple Leafs (and
also the PC Pumas in a nail-biting hockey
game against Country Day School), they
saw Niagara Falls lit up and frozen over,
visited the University of Toronto and
made many memories with the whole PC
community.
In March, our students travelled to
Brighton, United Kingdom. Like us,
Brighton College is a co-ed independent
day and boarding school, founded in
the 1840s. It is also one of the toprated independent schools in the country.
Attending classes on their campus and
getting to know the British school system
was a revealing experience for our
students. Our students enjoyed British
seaside life, visiting the piers in Brighton
and poking around all the charming
shops and cafés. They also spent time in
London, experiencing iconic British sights
such as Westminster Abbey and Big Ben.
PC EXPLORES: FRANCE
Nineteen French and World History students and two faculty members travelled to
France in March. The journey gave these enthusiastic teenagers an opportunity to
meaningfully use their French skills and to derive historical lessons at some of the
greatest historic sites in the world. With overnight stays in Paris, Nimes and Nice,
opportunities for lessons in French, history and culture abounded.
20
Participating in an exchange is a
challenging, rewarding experience
that allows students to truly integrate
into a different culture. It also gives
students greater independence, unique
experiences and memories that will
last a lifetime. In the 2015-2016 school
year, exchanges will again be offered
to Brighton College as well as a new
exchange to Goulburn Valley Grammar
School in Australia.
STUDENT LIFE
Broadening Our World Perspectives
THE WORLD COMES TO PC
This past winter, the Global Leadership Program hosted a speaker series on World Perspectives. Speakers addressed a range of topics
including social justice, entrepreneurship and cultural influence on how one views the world. The speakers hailed from a number
of different countries including Nigeria, Guyana, Colombia and Canada, including Hiawatha First Nation. The takeaway message
of the series was that considering the world from different perspectives encourages us to think critically about our global context.
Video footage of all six speakers is available on the PC YouTube channel, through our website.
journeys.
PC GIVES TO FREE THE CHILDREN
A very special presentation took place
during Morning Meeting, when we
welcomed Michaela Evans, Free the
Children’s Education Program Coordinator.
Since 2011, PC has had the unique
opportunity to become a part of two
very special communities; Mwangaza,
in Kenya’s Maasai Mara, and the fishing
village of Asemkow, Ghana. Three teams
of PC students experienced life-changing
Team Kenya 2011, led by Mr. and Mrs.
Lewis, was extremely privileged to be the
first group ever to live and work in the
community of Mwangaza, and were there
to begin building Free the Children’s first
Mwangaza school. Pickering College had
provided the funding for the building
through our staff Social Justice Fund.
With $8500 donated by the Social Justice
Team, Kenya 2011 built the classroom’s
foundation.
When Team Kenya 2012 returned to
Mwangaza the following year, the
classroom had been completed and was
filled with children eager to learn. Team
Kenya 2012 then added the walls for a
second classroom building and dug the
foundation for a third. While there, both
teams witnessed the tremendous need
for a clean water source for Mwangaza,
which became PC’s next fundraising
initiative. With a further $4500 from the
staff Social Justice Fund and $1300 raised
from the sale of Rafiki chains, a well for
the community was provided. Faculty
member Dean Gessie, who heads the
Social Justice Fund, presented the cheque
to Free the Children.
Team Ghana 2014 arrived in Asemkow
and quickly became involved in both a
sanitation and school building project.
Nicola Shaw ’14 delivered an emotional
speech about her life-changing experience.
The funds being presented to Free The
Children will help to address Mwangaza’s
need of a permanent water source, to
ensure that clean water is provided to the
community and the students at the school.
21
KUDOS
(under-18 category) by 16 judges from
across Canada, including CBC personality
Rick Mercer, NHL defenseman Grant
Clitsome, Edmonton Councillor Michael
Walker and former mayor of Iqaluit
Madeleine Redfern.
In addition, Sterling Mancuso competed in the National Public Speaking
and Debate Championships, hosted
at St. John’s Ravenscourt in Winnipeg,
Manitoba. It is known as the toughest tournament on the Canadian circuit,
drawing the best of the best high school
orators from across the country. Sterling
placed 14th overall.
PHILLIP CARSON NAMED TO TEAM
ONTARIO
After competing in the Provincial
Championships in early April, Phillip was
named to Team Ontario and was able to
compete at the 2015 Eastern Canadian
Gymnastic Championships, held at the
University of Moncton, New Brunswick,
May 9-10. Team Ontario put on a strong
performance and came home with the
Silver medal, right behind Québec. In
addition to contributing to Team Ontario’s
scores, Phillip finished 3rd All Round, with
personal best scores in many events.
CELESTE FRANK AT ONTARIO
VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kudos to Celeste Frank who played in
the Ontario Volleyball Championships the
weekend of April 25-26 in Waterloo. Her
STORM ICE team entered the tournament
ranked 14 out of 67 teams. After three
days of play, STORM ICE finished the
weekend placing 9 out of 67.
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STERLING MANCUSO MAKES YOUTH
SHORTLIST FOR 2014 EVERYDAY
POLITICAL CITIZEN
Sterling Mancuso, Grade 10, was one of ten
Canadian youth shortlisted for the Everyday
Political Citizen project. Organized by the
non-profit organization Samara Canada,
the project highlights people who are
making their communities better every day.
Sterling was selected for the shortlist
JOSH SNOW PARTICIPATES IN PAN AM
GAMES OPENING CEREMONIES
Josh Snow, Grade
9, was chosen to
perform for the
Cirque du Soleil
opening ceremonies of the Pan
Am Games in July.
Earlier this year,
Josh also sang O
Canada to open
the
Newmarket
Hurricanes game
against the Aurora
Tigers at the Ray
Twinney Recreation
Complex.
PATRICK PROCHAZKA FINISHES IN TOP 5 AT CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC CHALLENGE
Patrick Prochazka, Grade 9 (centre), secured a top-five finish at the Canadian
Geographic Challenge, National Championship. Patrick was among the top 20 students in Canada (out of 15,000 competitors) who travelled to Ottawa to compete in
two rounds of play at the National Championship.
RESIDENCE LIFE
T
he Residential Program is designed to encourage students to engage in a wide
range of activities and experiences. Through the FAMILY PROGRAM our students
celebrate community, appreciate diversity and develop long lasting friendships. They
mentor one another, support one another and cheer one another to the finish line.
Residence curriculum is delivered for the most part through the residence families. This
year we developed RESIDENCE LEARNING SKILLS REPORTS which are completed
by our Family Heads as a means to keep our parents apprised of their child’s growth,
development and general deportment.
This past school year we also trialed a new study program which was well received by
students and very effective at supporting student learning. During OPEN SPACE STUDY,
students work collaboratively on test preparation, assignments and homework. They tutor
one another for assessments and encourage one another through major projects and
presentations. Students are also supported by teachers that facilitate each study room.
The EVENING ACTIVITIES PROGRAM offers students a wide range of options to get
students out of their room and involved. Over the winter and spring terms the evening
program options included activities such as yoga, personal training, cooking, baking,
basketball, badminton, volleyball and scrapbooking.
In addition, we offered a dynamic WEEKEND PROGRAM with day ski trips, trips
to galleries, museums, the theatre, ballet and numerous sights around the greater
Toronto area. Two favourite day trips this term were trampoline dodgeball and a trip
to Burd’s fishing farm, where our students learned to fish and were able to bring their
catch back to school to cook, under the supervision of our Dining Services staff. Over
the LONG WEEKENDS a number of our students took advantage of the opportunity
to visit local communities. For the Thanksgiving weekend our students enjoyed a trip
to the Muskokas where we stayed at the beautiful Deerhurst Resort and Spa. Over the
February long weekend, 52 students travelled to Blue Mountain in Collingwood, where
we skied and snowboarded for four days.
A highlight of each year is the MULTICULTURAL DINNER; this year was no different.
For this event students were assigned to teams. Students worked with student team
leaders and a staff coach to plan a menu, set a budget, shop for food items and to cook
a meal. Each cultural group set up a display and presented their food that the boarding
community enjoyed buffet-style. This year was outstanding!
The RESIDENCE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM grew this year with the addition of the
Cultural Council, BAthletic and BSocial. These leadership councils were put in place at
the end of last year to offer students more opportunity to participate in development
of the residence program. The councils have been very effective and well received.
RESIDENCE GAMES run each term as a means to create energy and to bring our
students together. Our spring Residence Games and FAREWELL BBQ signal the end
of the school year. The laughter and comradery experienced through the goodbye
speeches, slide shows and time competing on the fields is both joyful and emotional
as for some these events signify the end of their time as students or staff at PC. Taking
the time to celebrate the year together through these events cements friendships for a
lifetime and brings closure to those leaving us.
This year is a particularly poignant year for me as it marks my final year working in
residence and student life. I feel very fortunate to have worked with hundreds of
students over the years and will miss working with students to create experiences
that will stay with them for a lifetime. Thank you for the memories! I look forward to
working with you as alumni in my new role as the school’s Manager of Special Events.
–Shelley Frank, past Director of Residence Life
23
ATHLETICS
JUNIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL
Undefeated in their regular season, Pickering College hosted the championships
at the end of February. The girls won a
tough semi-final game against Toronto
Montessori School and moved on to play
Albert College in the finals. Unfortunately,
they were outmatched and lost in four
sets. PC came away with the silver medal
and the pledge to improve for next year!
BADMINTON
The coed badminton team competed in
May in their final tournament at Humber
College. For the first time, PC was able
to field a full girls and boys team for the
championships. Out of all the CISAA
schools in attendance, our girls’ team
placed an exciting third. Individually,
Seven Huang placed third as the first
single girl, and both Rennie Ip and Tiffany
Mok won gold in the second and third
singles category.
The boys’ category met with some very
difficult play. Showing a determined
effort, George Gong and Jeffery Leung
placed third in the second boys doubles
category.
JUNIOR GIRLS SOCCER SILVER
Pickering College hosted the Junior Girls
Soccer Championship this spring. After
defeating St. Mildred’s Lightbourn School
2-0 in the semi-finals, PC faced Albert
College in the gold medal game. Tied at
1-1 for most of the game, Albert College
was able to sneak in two goals defeating
PC 3-1. The girls earned the silver medal.
EQUESTRIAN
The PC equestrian team rode at Waterstone each day to prepare for the horse
show at Lakefield College. All of the riders
improved greatly throughout the season
and each one received at least one ribbon
after the competition!
Some notable achievements were: Nicole
Shouldice, in the open division, received
second place in Flat and second place in
Over Fences; in the novice division, Nicole
Kelln received first in Flat and Reserved
Champion, Karen Ji received second in
Over Fences and Urmi Upadhyay received
third in Over Fences.
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CONGRATULATIONS, GRADE 8 GRADUATES!
GRADE 8 STUDENT AWARDS
Samuel Correa: Valedictorian, Music
Award, Male Athlete Award, Steward
Award, Academic Award
Inaara Rajani: Junior School
Community Service Award
Brooke Baker: The Good Friend Award
Justin Kim: The Good Friend Award
Emma Kerswill: Rogers Cane, Art Award, Female
Athlete Award, Steward Award
Emily Golding: Le prix français
Adam Murphy: Male Athlete Award, Steward
Award
Leonora Strawbridge: The Joshua Weinzweig
Memorial Literary Award
Julia Bianco: Steward Award
Celine Barratt: Steward Award
Vanessa Gardner: Steward Award
Kayla Lucchese: Academic Award
On June 10, we celebrated the achievements of our Grade 8 students, as they graduate from the Middle School to the Senior School,
starting in the fall. The students received their diplomas and a number of awards were presented for academic achievements, athletic
achievements, school involvement and more. Following the ceremony there was a dinner and dance.
PROUD OF OUR KINDERGRADS
KNOX INGLES
CONCERN FOR OTHERS
ANIKA MERRICK
COURAGE
KYLE JOHNSON
TRISTAN KARKOUTI
ISHAAN MEHTA
RESPECT
CARING
RESPONSIBILITY
LEV MOSKALTCOV
AIDEN ROBINSON-VINCENT
OPENNESS
COMMUNITY
SIENNA SEXSMITH-BROSSEAU
DIVERSITY
Eight Senior Kindergarten students graduated this year, at a ceremony held on June 9. Family, friends and staff listened as each
student shared their fondest memory of their time in Kindergarten and what they wanted to be when they grow up. Headmaster
Peter Sturrup presented each student with a PC Guiding Value Award, followed by their diploma and a PC teddy bear.
25
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2015!
The pouring rain did not dampen the
enthusiasm of our 2015 graduates as they
celebrated with the annual hat toss on
the steps of Rogers House.
This year’s graduating class was from 11
different countries, including Canada,
Barbados, South Korea, Mexico, Nigeria,
Japan, Bermuda, China, Hong Kong,
Jamaica and Italy. They had a fantastic
year, with 35 students achieving the
distinction of Ontario Scholar. Fifteen
students received the prestigious
Pickering College Global Leadership Letter
of Recommendation.
We wish them all the best and know that
they will represent the vision of Pickering
College well into the future. All of our
graduates were accepted into the postsecondary institutions of their choice in
Canada, the United States, the United
Kingdom, Japan and Italy.
1
26
GRADE 12 COMMENCEMENT
AWARD WINNERS
1. JUNE GLEED
Valedictorian, Music Award, Canadian
and World Studies Subject Award,
University of Toronto National Book
Award, Student Committee Chair,
Widdrington Award
2
3
4
2. ISAIAH FONG
Steward Award, Widdrington Award
3. GRANT KAVANAGH
Steward Award, English Subject Award
4. AHKINA KIM
Steward Award
5. KENNETH JOE-EZIGBO
Steward Award, Harry M. Beer Award
5
6
7
6. BETTY LU
Steward Award, Howarth Fine Arts Award
7. CALVIN NUNN
Steward Award
8. CHARLES QIU
Steward Award
8
11
9
12
10
13
9. ALEJANDRA CEBALLOS VARGAS
Joshua Weinzweig Memorial Literary
Award, Modern Languages Subject
Award
10. JESSIE HU
The Zetzl Family Science Award, The
Governor General’s Medallion, The
Widdrington Award, Technology Subject
Award
11. JOE LI
The Good Friend Award, The Boarder
Cup, The Lt. Governor’s Community
Volunteer Award, The Widdrington
Award, The Garratt Cane, Mathematics
Subject Award
12. ALEXANDRA MCGILL
The Newmarket Historical Society Prize,
French Book Award
13. KATE MOODY
The Four Pillars Award, The Blackstock
Award
14. ZAHAN COOPER
Science Subject Award
14
15
16
15. HOLLY ROUSELLE
Humanities Subject Award
16. VANESSA CHIU
Fine Arts Subject Award
17. ERIC CUMISKEY
Athlete of the Year – Male
18. SARAH RITCHIE
Athlete of the Year - Female
17
18
19
19. SAMANTHA TAN
K-12 Graduate
27
ALUMNI NEWS
1960s
Ron Veale ’63, Yukon
Supreme Court Justice, garnered some national attention
by his ruling in December
that the Canadian territory’s
government did not have
the authority to override a
land-use plan to preserve the
bulk of the 67,000-km2 Peel
Watershed region.
1970S
Allen Zee ’79: “I am doing
fine and still in family practice
in Toronto but working less
hours. I was recently in Hong
Kong and was able to connect
with a few PC alum. Some of
them I haven’t seen for over
20 years. I have two kids,
my daughter, Annika, and my
son, Kristopher.”
Albert Chang ’81 from Hong
Kong and his Toronto-based
brother George Chang ’86
visited Pickering in May 2015,
for a brief but delightful visit
with a favourite teacher, coach
and counsellor, Charles Boyd.
Howie Murray ’86 married
Lori Jursa-Helmkay on April
1, 2015.
2000s
Mark Blades ’83 and Charles
Beer ’59 met up in Mark’s
Coconut Court Beach Hotel in
Barbados.
1980s
Tom Everson ’81 was awarded
Team Cornwall Ambassador of
the Year award at the Chamber
of
Commerce
Business
Excellence Awards dinner.
level degree at Parsons with
fashion marketing, I am
now focusing on developing
other knowledge and skills in
a broader scope of fashion
business. I came back to New
York for the spring semester.”
Karo D Jr. Yiu
’85 returned to
the track after
30 years last
November and
represented
Hong
Kong
at the Taiwan
Masters
Meet
in April 2015,
where he received a gold and a
silver medal.
Kurt Richardson ’02 and his
wife Brett are very happy to
announce they welcomed
their son Hendrix to the world
on November 20, 2014.
2010s
Alex Gillespie ’10 graduated
from Wilfred Laurier in
June 2014 with an honours
Bachelor of Political Science
and History. He is currently
studying in London England
at the London School of
Economics
completing
his master’s degree in
International Relations. He will
be returning to Canada this
fall to attend Law School at
the University of Ottawa.
Ryan Prittie ’10 is taking his
Masters of Arts in English and
has a Teaching Assistant position
in the English Department at
Carleton University.
Carolyn Gillespie ’11 has
just completed her honours
Bachelor of Architecture at
Carleton University. This fall she
will continue with her studies
at Carleton in their Masters of
Architecture program.
Brian Eun-Jin Choi ’04 married
Hakyung Kim on January 3,
2015. Brian is currently living
in Dubai, UAE, working as a
business strategist.
FLASHBACK FOTO FILE
The Unseen Hand by Sam Shepard, performed by the lads of
Pickering College, 1978-79. Winner of the Drama Festival held
at Crescent School. Front row: Chris Sartor ’82, Nick Brink ’80,
Steven Baranyi ’79, John Brdar ’81, John Lockyer Behind and
in the car: Ross Jones ’80, Martin Rabbets ’81 Back Row: Chris
Munn ’80, John Brennan ’81, Allen Zee ’79, Bill Waddell ’79,
Dag Spicer ’80
28
Jason
Lee
’07:
“After
graduating Parsons, I spent a
year in New York looking for a
job related to my major. That
didn’t work out well, so I went
back to Korea last August and
did an internship at a major
department store’s marketing
department. In the meantime,
I’ve applied for Fashion Institute
of Technology and I was offered
an admission for Fashion
Merchandising Management.
With my previous associate-
Mikayla Johnson ’11: “After
PC, I went to the Ivey Business
School at Western University
and have now completed four
years of my five-year undergraduate dual degree program
in Chemistry and Business. In
December, I was awarded the
Cansbridge Fellowship grant
through Queen’s University. I
was successful in landing a job
with a small consulting firm,
SmithStreet, and am now in
Shanghai from May-August to
work as a Junior Analyst.
PC gave me a first glance,
through
the
boarding
community, at the many
cultures this world has to offer.
I have always had an interest in
seeing China and while I have
only been here for a few days as
I write this, I am loving it so far!”
Kate Niemuller ’11: “I am
currently submitting Almost
Strangers, a short drama film
created through my Ryerson
film program to various
festivals as I further my career
in screenwriting. We were
awarded a $1000 grant from
William F. White International
Inc. to assist with the film.
I am also adapting a novel
into a screenplay for a client,
working as a script consultant
on sellingyourscreenplay.com
and building up a following
for my own website www.
wanderingwriters.com.”
Sophie Armstrong ’12 was
on an exchange in Canberra,
Australia, to continue her
studies
in
International
Development and took some
time to explore while she was
there. Here she is at Uluru
(Ayers Rock).
Nick LaValle ’14 “My time
teaching in Vietnam has been
an incredible experience but
also has brought on a new
respect for my old teachers.
The amount of energy and
concentration it takes to keep
a class in line but also keeping
yourself going at 100 per cent
enthusiasm is exhausting.
After class, I join some of my
students for soccer on a field
a quarter regulation size and
completely covered in sand,
but despite that it’s some of
the most competitive and fun
soccer I’ve ever played.”
Samantha Tan ’15 continues
to tear up the racetrack in
the Canadian Touring Car
Championship. She is one of
the only female drivers on
the circuit and the youngest.
In May, Samantha had her
first P1 finish in her class, and
finished 3rd in her class at
the Honda Indy in June! You
can find more information
on Sam’s racing career at
www.samanthatanracing.com.
In September, Sam begins
her studies at University of
California, Irvine, right after
her last race of the season in
Monterey, CA. SPOTLIGHT ON THE1990s
Rob Drynan ’91 is a member of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40 and a two-time finalist for
the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Rob has spent his career leading
businesses in both the private and non-profit sectors and has an affinity for strategy,
operations, marketing and business development. Rob attended Pickering College
from 1988-1990, and is a member of the Class of 1991. He took psychology at
Carleton and went on to take a number of executive education courses at University of
Toronto–Rotman School of Management.
Rob is currently the Principal at BeachHead Strategic Consulting Services in Toronto,
helping start-ups and small businesses grow by creating a solid operational foundation
to build upon. Rob also advises in the field of marketing and business development
strategy, as he had previously launched the cause-marketing arm of advertising giant,
MacLaren McCann.
Rob is very committed to the non-profit sector, working with the Jays Care Foundation—the charitable arm of the Toronto Blue
Jays—as a consultant and interim Executive Director. The foundation works to ensure children in need have the opportunity to make
positive changes in life through programs that support physical activity, education and life-skill development. Rob started in the nonprofit sector as the Executive Director of Camp Oochingeas, a camp for kids with cancer with facilities in Muskoka and downtown
Toronto, and a full-time program at SickKids Hospital.
Giving back to the community, Rob has volunteered as: the co-chair of “The Emerging Leaders Network” and member of the
advisory board for The Greater Toronto CivicAction Alliance; Chair of the Board for Planned Parenthood Toronto; as co-chair for the
Art Gallery of Ontario’s “Massive Party;” and most recently, walked in high heels with hundreds of other men raising funds for the
White Ribbon Campaign at the “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” in Toronto.
Rob spends the majority of his personal time with his wife of 17 years, Melissa, and their two children, Emma, 10, and Carter, 9. They
reside in downtown Toronto. When asked about his experience with Pickering College, he had this to say: “My time at Pickering
College had a very positive and lasting effect on me. It helped me to understand my role in the community, and how to become a
leader. I would say that Pickering College was a key component to making me the man I am today.”
29
PASSINGS
On behalf of Pickering
College, our very
deepest sympathy is
extended to all the
family members of our
Pickering alumni, faculty,
staff and friends
who have passed away.
Cameron Clark ’48
January 1, 2015
Joan Clark (past staff)
February 25, 2015
Bob Moffat ’44
June 15, 2015
Wilf Coutu ’44
February 18, 2015
Nancy Paige (past parent)
December 8, 2014
Bob Rickwood ’67
April 20, 2015
Albert Underhill ’51
March 8, 2015
eOE
PUMA’S DEN
For their Global Leadership
project,
“Change
Makes
Cents,” the Grade 9 students
entered the Puma’s Den.
The students faced a panel
of judges which included
alumni Thomas Tam ’95 and
Adam Shully ’78, current staff
member Claudia Chavez, and
past parent / past Chair of the
Board of Directors, Beth Egan.
Each judge played a role of
one of the “Dragon’s Den”
personalities, challenging and
questioning each group’s
pitch, providing students
with the opportunity to think
on their feet, defend their
plans and begin to learn the
art of negotiation. Thank you
to Adam, Thomas, Claudia
and Beth for participating. It
was an amazing day!
30
Your
WHAT’S
MORNING MEETING?
Morning Meetings are some of the fondest memories for alumni. Several alumni returned earlier this
year to share their advice and encouragement, along with thought-provoking topics and reflections.
Dan ’09 and Kyle Foch ’13 presented their award-winning
design to the Senior School students. Their innovative
solution to the affordable-housing shortage in York Region,
entitled “Think Outside the Box” won them first place in
the “Make Rentals Happen” competition. In addition to
addressing Morning Meeting about their project, they
encouraged students to find opportunities to leverage their
expertise towards projects in which they are emotionally
invested. Daniel and Kyle also mentored the Grade 9 students who were working on their Social
Innovation Project. Thank you for demonstrating the value of innovation and creativity and how it
can have a positive effect on our local community.
Lawyer Quinn Ross ’94 was not only part of the PCA Speaker
Series addressing parents about “Social Media and Issues
of Consent” but he also addressed the Middle and Senior
School students in Morning Meeting and the Grade 9 and
10 classes about the same topic. Impactful and direct, he got
the students’ attention and received very positive feedback
from them. The parents appreciated his candor and clear
information, as well as his efforts to help educate them about
the impact of their children’s online activities, issues of consent and the risks involved. Thank you
to Quinn for continuing to contribute to Pickering College!
At Morning Meeting, Adam Camenzuli ’06 and his brother
Brian presented their business “Karibu Solar,” which is
bringing affordable solar energy to rural communities in
Africa. Inspiring students with a real-life example of a social
innovative project, Adam and Brian took the students through
the process of setting up a business in Kenya and Tanzania,
and discussed the challenges and successes they face as they
continue to develop their venture. They also addressed a few classes and were interviewed on CHOP
FM. Thank you for inspiring our students with your example of entrepreneurship, risk-taking and
your positive environmental approach to an identified problem in our world. www.karibusolar.com
puma’s den
ALUMNI EVENTS
Alumni Film Panel
BRINGING REAL-WORLD FILM EXPERIENCE INTO THE CLASSROOM
THROUGH THE ALUMNI PROGRAM.
ALUMNI AT SPRINGFEST
The Pickering College community came
together twice on May 7 to enjoy both
the Junior and Senior Springfest concerts!
Students from JK to Grade 12 shared
their musical talents with a melodic
repertoire that showcased both instrumental and chorale ensembles. Our
talented students entertained parents,
grandparents and special friends, as
well as some returning alumni, further
enhancing a lovely spring day.
Kim Bartlett, Brendan Fitzgerald ’14,
Meagan Fitzgerald ’13, Anastasia
Macdougall ’13, Ioana Pop ’13
The Alumni Film Panel was a new initiative,
created to help provide concrete and practical help to
assist students in the film class with their projects.
Students shared their work in progress to PC Alumni in the
film industry for their feedback. The students found the advice
and the opportunity to share their work valuable. This program
is in its infant stages and has more room to grow next year!
Thank you to our 2014-2015 Alumni Film Panel volunteers
for their support and encouragement.
Alumni Film Panelists :
Adam Bradley ’98
Resides in LA; Production,
Paramount Pictures;
Film-writer.
ALUMNI TRANSITION EVENT 2015
“Did your grades drop?” “Did you have
money problems?” “Were you homesick?”
These were a few of the questions the
Grade 12 class asked the alumni who
came to talk about their post-secondary
experiences on May 13. As most of the
visiting alum graduated from PC last year,
they had lots of advice to give, based on
their recent personal experiences. Thanks
for coming everyone!
Attendees back row: Mike Scott ’12,
Mikayla Johnson ’11, Nicole Wolscht ’13,
Kyle Foch ’13, Brendan Fitzgerald ’14,
Alyssa Black ’14 , Aleksa MacDonald ’14,
Michela Prefontaine ’14 Front row: Victor
Chadarov ’14, Isaac Hambrock ’14, Justin
Frando ’13, Martin Roodenburg ’14
Francis Coral-Melon ’06
Resides in Waterloo Ontario; Owner,
Red Dust Films; Independent filmmaker;
Currently completed work on the documentary
Transcend recently screened in Chicago.
Paolo Kernahan ’89
Resides in Trinidad; Executive film producer,
writer and host with Idiom Productions;
Television series, video features and
documentaries.
Brian Purdy ’56
Resides in Grimsby, Ontario; Television
Producer/Director; founded MEDIAIMAGE
Communications Group; garnered 102
International Awards including a GEMINI Award;
the Queen Elizabeth II - Diamond Jubilee Medal;
Certificate of Congratulations - House of
Commons, Ottawa; Grimsby Citizen of the
Year, 2010; Initiated Canada’s first War of 1812
Peace Garden in Grimsby.
31
32
ALUMNI REUNIONS
CHRISTMAS REUNION
Over 45 alumni including grads from 2014, participants in the Kenyan trips who reunited with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, and alumni from
many other years, all packed into the staff lounge for the annual Alumni Christmas Reunion bash. Highlights for the alumni included
visiting with advisors and teachers, picking up the 2014 yearbooks and reliving some of the African adventures during the Me to We
trips. Back row L to R: Grace Hilton ’14, Nico Macias ’14, Seamus Mulroy ’14, Michael Gautier ’14, Daniel Mulroy, Free the Children,
Andrew Kazuba ’14, Brendan Fitzgerald ’14, Kevin Spiering ’14, Nick Lavalle ’14, Nicola Shaw ’14, Alex Floyd ’14 Front row L to R:
Natasha Krstajic ’13, Kayli Demirli ’13, Jade Scrymgeour ’12, Tom Lewis, Patti Lewis, Sophie Armstrong ’14, Meg Geurts ’12
KINGSTON REUNION
Local alumni in Kingston dined with current faculty members Graham Birt and Cristy Drake and the senior girls volleyball team
for dinner. Enjoying the evening were: Front row: Holly Rouselle ’15, Kayli Demirli ’13, Ally Krstajic ’16, Kate Moody ’15, Mairead
Mulroy ’13, Cristy Drake Middle row: Shayna Nicholls ’15, Mareena Mallory ’13, Sumana Gupta ’16, Vanessa Chiu ’15 Back row:
Emily Perkovic ’16, Amber Gocool ’16, Lauren Jenkins ’16, Graham Birt, Alex Floyd ’14, Lindsay Floyd ’12, Courtney DeSouza ’12,
Alycia Hubbard ’12, Amanda McDougall ’15, Alyssa Black ’14, Tom Hagias ’12, Emily Nunn ’14, Andrew Murphy ’14
33
ALUMNI REUNIONS
THE “GOOD OLD BOYS” REUNION
1967-1971 alumni, or the “Good Old Boys” as they call themselves, celebrated their
lifelong connection with the school and each other in late March this year, under the
continued leadership of Class Rep Greg Dopulos ’68. Seeing new faces join us this year
was wonderful. While Greg is taking a break from leading the organization of this event
in order to focus on their upcoming 50th anniversary in 2018, we are certain we shall
see everyone next year!
Back row: James (Jim) Brown ’69, Brian Worrall ’69, Phil Allan ’71, Craig Spafford ’68,
Gary McLean ’68, Chuck Barton ’71 Middle row: Mike Peters ’68, Greg Dopulos ’68,
Malcolm MacNeil ’68, Bernie Hashmall ’70 Front row: Duncan Walker ’69, Monty
Bourke ’69, Charles Boyd, Peter Sturrup, Phil McMicheal ’69
For his service to community, Pickering College is proud to announce:
JAMES BROWN ’69
to be inducted to
The Class of 1842
on October 3, 2015
“The Class of 1842” is a group of individuals who are honoured,
recognized and appreciated by Pickering College for their service,
achievement, or for their contribution to education. This is the highest
honour that the school awards to Pickering’s alumni, former faculty, or
staff who have distinguished themselves nationally or internationally.
Join us to celebrate Reunion Weekend,
dedicate our newly expanded and refurbished Dining Hall and
recognize the accomplishments of James Brown ’69.
STAFF NEWS
RETIREMENT
Long-time faculty member Dean Gessie
retired at the end of the 2014-2015
school year. During his time at PC, he
contributed to the life and spirit of the
school in many ways. Early on, Dean was
the Dean of Residence while teaching.
He lived on campus for 20 years with his
wife and former PC faculty member, Julie
Marchand and later their two children.
Dean worked tirelessly on the school
yearbook for over 15 years. Although
Dean’s primary teaching subject has been
English, he has also taught Family Studies,
Philosophy and Dramatic Arts.
Along with teaching Dean has always
had a true passion for social justice. He
founded the Staff Social Justice Fund
which has raised thousands for people
and projects locally and internationally
and this passion transcended to the
students through awareness campaigns
and protests.
For the last ten years, Dean led the very
successful Joshua Weinzweig Creative
Writing Program and more recently the
Global Leadership Personal Essay Contest
for PC students.
He also featured literary work by students
as the host of CHOP FM’s Literary Cafe.
In collaboration with What If? magazine,
Dean highlighted prize-winning student
work from across the country.
Congratulations on your retirement!
34
e
!
t
a
r
ele b
PICKERING COLLEGE ASSOCIATION
C
T
he PCA engages parents and friends
in spirit and community-building
initiatives throughout the year. We
continue to strengthen and expand
our volunteer program as we adjust to
the changing needs of our families and
celebrate the wonderful people who are
part of our vibrant community and who
contribute so much.
The energy of our amazing volunteers
has made the past two terms a whirlwind
of activity: organizing a hot chocolate
day for the Junior School, assisting at
Carnaval, covering lunch for the Junior
School teachers, hosting Coffee Socials,
thanking our faculty and staff, welcoming
new families, engaging new volunteers,
attending Interguild meetings, organizing
grade lunches, and more!
The PCA Speaker Series featured two
interesting and dynamic presentations.
The first speaker, PC faculty member
Kim Bartlett, presented “Boys and Girls
Learning Together: Research, Learning
Styles and the Benefits of a Coeducational
Environment.” This presentation brought
insight about the current brain research
and how PC’s approach through a
coeducational environment brings many
benefits to our students.
The second PCA speaker was alumnus and
lawyer Quinn Ross ’94. Quinn returned this
year to address parents (and students) with
a dynamic and hard-hitting presentation
“Social Media and Issues of Consent: What
you need to know to protect your children
and yourself.” Quinn’s presentations are
sharp, witty, knowledgeable and dynamic,
and brought many issues for parents to
consider as they attempt to guide their
children through the online world. Quinn
Ross has recently secured the post of
second Vice President of the Ontario Bar
Association.
Celebrating its 11th year, the Spring
Luncheon
Committee
hosted
the
“Great Gatsby” Spring Luncheon at
The Mansion. This friend-raiser featured
flappers, pearls, champagne, a vintage
photo-booth, quality vendors, fantastic
décor and a lovely meal. Some guests said
it was “the best Spring Luncheon, ever!” A
huge thank you to the committee for the
months of work they did to create such a
memorable afternoon. Many thanks also
to Catch the Spirit Photos by Rhonda for
the beautiful photographs from the day.
35
Three Cheers for Our Talented PC Volunteers!
Volunteering is the essence of Pickering’s community spirit. Thank you to all those who give their time
and talent in support of the school’s many events and initiatives.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2014-2015
Charles Beer ’59
Christina Bianco
Adam Floyd
Ajit Khanna
Jonathan Knaul ’87
Kelly Mason
Mirella Morra
Ian Proudfoot
Linda Stevenson
Roger Veale ’61
Stephen Widdrington ’83
CORPORATION MEMBERS
2014-2015
Charles Beer ’59
Dawn Beswick
Christina Bianco
Brian Blackstock ’56
Angelica Blenich ’03
Charles Boyd
Paul Clubbe ’61
Scott Cowling ’97
Janet Downer
Karen Dubeau
Beth Egan
Beric Farmer
Adam Floyd
Andrew Gordon ’02
Andrew Grant ’92
Beverly Jackson
Ajit Khanna
Jonathan Knaul ’87
Christopher Lane
Ailene MacDougall
Kelly Mason
Blake Melnick ’81
Mirella Morra
Glenor Pitters
William Prittie
Ian Proudfoot
Brian Purdy ’56
Ed Richardson ’45
Edmund Rynard ’70
Norman Smith
Jason Smith
Linda Stevenson
Peter Sturrup
Roger Veale ’61
36
James Waters
Karen Whetstone
Stephen Widdrington ’83
Jane Zavitz-Bond
BOARD COMMITTTEES
Development Committee
Kim Bilous
Kelly Mason
Jessie-May Rowntree
Peter Sturrup
Facilities Committee
Alberto Alonso
Kevin Desforges
Adam Floyd
David Lehto
Malcolm Mason
William Prittie
Susan Strong
Patrick Turner ’97
Finance Committee
Christina Bianco
Christopher Lane
Nicole Murphy
Governance Committee
Ajit Khanna
Kelly Mason
Mirella Morra
Karen Whetstone
Human Resources Committee
Andrew Gordon ’02
Shannon Kelly
Ajit Khanna
Mary Madigan-Lee
Roger Veale ’61
Risk Management Committee
Steve Johnson
Jonathan Knaul ’87
Robert Martin
Laura Mason
Nicole Murphy
Ian Proudfoot
Peter Sturrup
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Charles Beer ’59
Kim Bilous
Beth Egan
Ailene MacDougall
Kelly Mason
Brian Purdy ’56
Jessie-May Rowntree
Alana Simon
Peter Sturrup
PCA EXECUTIVE AND
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Linda Stevenson, Chair
Pam Falcon
Donna Fordyce
Ajit Khanna
Kelly Mason
Kirsten Nicolson
Krystie Robinson-Vincent
Ellen Rosen
Sandra Scherre
Mitch Stevenson
Peter Sturrup
PC AMBASSADORS –
ADMISSION EVENTS
Pamela Gardner
Maria Victoria Kadise Sucar
Margo Starr
Adilzhan Suleimanov
Tatyana Suleimanov
Willa Wang
GLOBAL LEADERSHIP
SPEAKERS AND
VOLUNTEERS
Holly Blodgett
Adam Camenzuli ’06
Brian Camenzuli
Santiago Correa
Marilyn Church
Daniel Foch ’09
Kyle Foch ’13
Joyce Holmeida
Beverly Jackson
Audrey Joe-Ezigbo
Ruth MacLean
Ranji Singh
Philip Smith
Takashi Yamashita
Jane Zavitz-Bond
LEADERS IN RESIDENCE
Bev Bradley
Samir Sinha
Sean Stephens
Angela Tessier
PUMA’S DEN JUDGES
Claudia Chavez
Beth Egan
Adam Shully ’78
Thomas Tam ’95
PCA GUEST SPEAKERS
Kimberly Bartlett
Quinn Ross ’94
CLASSROOM, PROGRAM,
CO-CURRICULAR SPEAKERS
AND VOLUNTEERS
Meghan Beswick ’20
Dorothy Brace
Beric Farmer
Celeste Frank ’21
Lorraine Gravelle-Buchan
Mathieu Hubbard ’09
Kristin Marshall ’05
Andrea McMullen
Dan Mideo
Margo Starr NEW PARENT MENTORS
AND ORIENTATION
RECEPTION VOLUNTEERS
Kellie McKay, Parent Mentor
Chair
Joel Berger
Nicole Cannon ’18
Elexis Charles ’18
Diane Farmer
Debbie Floyd
Donna Fordyce
Joanne Golding
Beverley Hagias
Nicolee Hathaway
Deana Ho-Yan
Susan Hundert
Lisa Jeppesen-Dhanjal
Seira Kajiro ’18
Elan Moore
Mirella Morra
Nilgen Perez
Derek Qiu ’16
Krystie Robinson-Vincent
Sandra Scherre
Lisa Simmonds-Kim
Alana Simon
Danielle Visco
Elizabeth Walker
Ada Wang ’15
HILLTOP SKATING PROGRAM
AND EVENT VOLUNTEERS
Sydney Berger ’21
Jack Beswick ’22
Katelyn Beswick ’18
Meghan Beswick ’20
Kurt Browning
Peter Bunnik
Bob Delaney
Donna Fordyce
Harrison Frank ’24
Joseph Jenkins
Katelyn Kwan ’18
Mathea MacRae ’22
Anastasia Moskaltcova ’19
Sunny Qiu ’19
Krystie Robinson-Vincent
Heather R.
Ellen Rosen
Alana Simon
Kim Smith
Heather Smith-Morton
Grace Still ’21
Tammy Ward
WINTER CARNIVAL
Amy Beth
Susan Cooper
Donna Fordyce
Joanne Golding
Nicolee Hathaway
Kirsten Nicolson
Ashley Powell
Krystie Robinson-Vincent
Linda Stevenson
JUNIOR DRAMA PRODUCTION
“TWEET”
Kristen Arkell
Rachelle DeBrouwer
Jennifer Middleton
Alana Simon
GRANDPARENT AND SPECIAL
FRIEND DAY
Kamryn Barnes ’20
Rachelle DeBrouwer
Hannah Floyd ’17
Ajit Khanna
Serena MacDonald ’17
Kelly Mason
Emily Querin ’20
Derek Qiu ’16
Sunny Qiu ’19
Barbara Simmonds
Alana Simon
Sydney Uglow ’19
Urmi Upadhyay ’20
Ada Wang ’15
GRAD TRANSITION EVENT
Alyssa Black ’14
Victor Chadarov ’14
Brendan Fitzgerald ’14
Kyle Foch ’13
Justin Frando ’13
Isaac Hambrock ’14
Mikayla Johnson ’11
Aleksa MacDonald ’14
Michela Prefontaine ’14
Martin Roodenburg ’14
Michael Scott ’12
Nicole Wolscht ’13
16TH ANNUAL GOLF
TOURNAMENT
Mitch Stevenson, Chair
Kristen Arkell
Joel Berger
Kim Bilous
Charles Boyd
Teresa Clune
Anna Cook
Marc delaBastide
Laurie DiCarlo
Carter Eby ’17
David Eby
Catherine Farquhar
Brendan Fitzgerald ’14
Adam Floyd
Shelley Frank
June Gleed ’15
Alexis Hamilton
Alycia Hubbard ’12
Sheila Johnson
Michael Kelly ’14
Shannon Kelly
Kristen Kennedy ’05
Thomas Kim
Penelope Lawson-Cameron
Sean Malins-Umansky ’17
Daniel Mason ’18
Laura Mason
Malcolm Mason
Erin Matthews
Kumail Meghani
Karen Meisel
Graeme Montgomery
Jim Pedersen
Rebeca Riojas-Ozturk
Heather R.
Quinn Ross ’94
Alana Simon
Kim Smith
Adam Stella ’16
Kevin Still
Susan Strong
Gareth Sturrup ’09
Peter Sturrup
Alice Sud
Heather Suters
Thank You, Linda!
SPRING LUNCHEON
Krystie Robinson-Vincent, Chair
Anna Cook
Donna Fordyce
Deana Ho-Yan
Andrea McMullen
Mirella Morra
Juli Prochazka
Ellen Rosen
Sandra Scherre
Linda Stevenson
CLASS OF 2015 GRAD GIFT
FUNDRAISING
Jessica Buckmaster ’15
Kate Moody ’15, Student Chair
Shayna Nicholls ’15
Sarah Ritchie ’15
David Rouselle, Parent Co-Chair
Donna Rouselle, Parent Co-Chair
We would like to take this opportunity to express our thanks
to outgoing Pickering College Association Chair, Linda
Stevenson (L), who bravely served in this role for five years.
Linda’s energy, enthusiasm, deeply positive and visionary
approach to leading the PCA has left a lasting legacy and
she looks forward to serving as Past Chair to continue to
support Pickering College.
We welcome Donna Fordyce (R), parent, with Allan, of Sean
in Grade 4, as incoming Chair. Donna has been an involved
parent and active volunteer with Pickering since her son
came to our school, and we warmly welcome her to this
new role.
37
JOIN US!
PICKERIN
Newmarket, Ontari
VOLUME 37
16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmar
TEL (905) 895-1700 • 1-877-89
ISSUE ONE
E-MAIL admissions@pickeringc
MANAGING EDITOR
JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE
Director of Admission and Marketing
EDITOR
NAOMI CÔTÉ
Communications Manager
CONTRIBUTORS
ALEX AU YONG
KIMBERLY BARTLETT
KIM BILOUS
ETHAN BISHOP
CHARLES BOYD
ANNA COOK
CRISTY DRAKE
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR TICKETS AND INFORMATION:
PHONE: (905) 895-1700 EXT. 360
EMAIL: [email protected]
SHELLEY FRANK
JULIA HUNT
KAREN MEISEL
A portion of the proceeds will be donated to
Southlake Regional Health Centre in Newmarket.
ALANA SIMON
LISA STURRUP
NICKY WOOD
NOVEMBER 20-21, 2015
FRIDAY 5:30 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
SATURDAY 10:00 A.M. - 4:00 P.M.
UPCOMING EVENTS
SEPTEMBER – DECEMBER 2015
VANI ROUSE
TO SHARE YOUR COMMENTS, IDEAS
Tuesday, September 8
6:00 p.m.
Welcome BBQ
Wednesday, September 9
6:30 p.m.
Senior School Curriculum Night
Thursday, September 10
8:30 a.m.
Opening Meeting for Worship
JESSIE-MAY ROWNTREE
Thursday, September 17
6:30 p.m.
Junior School Curriculum Night
905.895.1700 EXT. 234
Thursday, October 1
9:45 a.m.
Alumni Morning Meeting,
reception to follow
[email protected]
Friday, October 2
10:30 a.m. 1940s Alumni Luncheon
4:30 p.m.
5:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m.
7:00 p.m.
School Tours
Alumni Reception
Dedication of the new Dining Hall
Class of 1842 Award Presentation,
Dinner and Dance
Wednesday, November 4
6:30 p.m.
Introduction to Senior School
Tuesday, November 10
5:00 p.m.
AGM and Volunteer Reception
Saturday, October 3
OR FOR ADVERTISING RATES AND
INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT
PICKERING COLLEGE
16945 BAYVIEW AVENUE
NEWMARKET, ONTARIO
CANADA L3Y 4X2
TEL: 905.895.1700
FAX: 905.895.8916
www.pickeringcollege.on.ca
Wednesday, November 11 10:45 a.m. Remembrance Day Meeting for Worship
THE PILLARS
Wednesday, November 18 6:30 p.m.
IS PUBLISHED BY THE ADMISSION AND MARKETING OFFICE FOR
ALUMNI, PARENTS, STUDENTS,
STAFF AND FRIENDS OF PICKERING
Friday, November 20
Saturday, November 21
Introduction to Middle School
5:30 p.m.
11th Annual Holiday Home Tour
10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, December 15
7:00 p.m.
Christmas Concert and
Alumni Reception
Thursday, December 17
8:30 a.m.
Christmas Meeting for Worship
Friday, December 18
38
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Last day of classes before Christmas break
COLLEGE.
PICKERING COLLEGE IS ON
THE THRESHOLD OF A NEW PHASE
IN ITS REMARKABLE HISTORY.
THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR SCHOOL’S
CAMPUS MASTER PLAN IS UNDERWAY.
Based on an ambitious strategic plan developed
collaboratively by our community, we will build
a campus that supports our unique approach
to teaching and allows the Global Leadership
Program to flourish. There will be a number of
exciting stages and announcements over the
next year, including progress towards reaching
our funding goals for this project; our work
with the local community in support of facilities
Newmarket, Ontario
development; and more detailed reveals of the
16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, ON, Canada L3Y 4X2
look and function
of895-1700
the facilities
themselves.
TEL (905)
• 1-877-895-1700
• FAX (905) 895-9076
PICKERING COLLEGE
E-MAIL [email protected] • WEB www.pickeringcollege.on.ca
Together, we will Light The Way for this
generation of global leaders.
For more information, contact:
Peter Sturrup, Headmaster,
[email protected]
or Kim Bilous in the
DevelopmentNewmarket,
Department, Ontario
16945
Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, ON, Canada L3Y 4X2
[email protected]
PICKERING COLLEGE
TEL (905) 895-1700 • 1-877-895-1700 • FAX (905) 895-9076
E-MAIL [email protected] • WEB www.pickeringcollege.on.ca
Tel. 905-895-1700
PICKERING
COLLEGE
PICKERING
COLLEGE
Newmarket, Ontario
Learning for Life. Creating the Future.
16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, ON, Canada L3Y 4X2
TEL (905) 895-1700 • 1-877-895-1700 • FAX (905) 895-9076
E-MAIL [email protected] • WEB www.pickeringcollege.on.ca
39
LEARNING FOR LIFE.
CREATING THE FUTURE.
ADMISSION DATES FOR 2015-2016
OPEN HOUSE
October 14
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
December 2 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
January 16 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
April 9 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
________________________________________
SPEND A HALF DAY
Attend class, meet our teachers, join us for
lunch! Registration required.
October 16 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
November 27 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
February 26 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
April 22 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
May 13 8:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
________________________________________
ickering College prepares generations of
P
learners and leaders.
We focus on the whole child where students learn to excel, to develop
character, to make friends and prepare for future endeavours and opportunities.
It’s their community, and the experiences they have at school shape them as
they become citizens of the world.
At Pickering College, students, faculty and staff live the values that have guided
our school since 1842 in a stimulating and collegial environment. And, with 100
international boarding students from more than 20 countries, our entire school
community benefits from a global perspective.
PICKERING COLLEGE
INTRODUCTION TO SENIOR SCHOOL
GRADES 9-12
Newmarket, Ontario
Diverse programming in small class settings allow students to excel academically
November 4 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, ON, Canada
L3Y 4X2of our graduates moving on to the post-secondary institute of their
________________________________________
with 100%
TEL (905) 895-1700 • 1-877-895-1700 • FAX (905) 895-9076
choice.
And to ensure a well-rounded experience, students engage in a full-range
[email protected]
• WEB www.pickeringcollege.on.ca
INTRODUCTIONE-MAIL
TO MIDDLE
SCHOOL
of co-curricular activities like skating, filmmaking, soccer, music and equestrian.
GRADES 6-8
November 18 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
February 17
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
To learn more about the Pickering College experience, please contact our
Admission Office [email protected] or 905.895.1700 ext. 259
or toll-free at 1.877.895.1700 ext. 259.
PICKERING COLLEGE
Newmarket, Ontario
Independent Co-educational Day and Boarding School
since 1842 | JK to University Preparatory
16945L3Y
Bayview
Avenue, Newmarket, ON, Canada
16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, ON, Canada
4X2
TEL (905) 895-1700 • 1-877-895-1700 • FAX (905) 895-9076
Visit
uswww.pickeringcollege.on.ca
at www.pickeringcollege.on.ca
E-MAIL [email protected]
• WEB
PICKERING
COLLEGE
PICKERING
COLLEGE
Newmarket, Ontario
Learning for Life. Creating the Future.
16945 Bayview Avenue, Newmarket, ON, Canada L3Y 4X2
TEL (905) 895-1700 • 1-877-895-1700 • FAX (905) 895-9076
E-MAIL [email protected] • WEB www.pickeringcollege.on.ca