TheLittleFlower - St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School

A BIMONTHLY FOR PARENTS OF THE ST THERESA OF LISIEUX CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL COMMUNITY
A WARM WELCOME to all of our
returning students, and a special
welcome to our grade 9 students, Class
START TO
of 2019. I truly hope that our STL
YEAR
families enjoyed a wonderful summer,
BY MR. SERVIDIO
spending quality time with your loved
PRINCIPAL
ones, ready to face a new school year,
reenergized, and focused.
AS WE ENTER OUR 14TH YEAR, I am very proud to
say that St. Theresa of Lisieux continues to be one of the
top ranked schools in Ontario. This year, we were ranked
number 7 by the Fraser Institute! We start the
year right where we left off, by continuing to
lead the way in all academic endeavors, both
locally and provincially! Our OSSLT scores
came in at a 92% success rate, exceeding our Board and
Provincial averages. Our EQAO Numeracy results came in
at a 98% success rate, clearly making us the leader in
our province.
THIS YEAR, we are faced with a few challenges. Our
success has caused our enrollment to expand to well over
1700 students. Three additional portables (referred to as
South Village ) were added at the rear of our portapack;
our six existing portables (referred to as W est V illage )
remain in front of our portapack. As a result of our
growth, a revised route for dropping off and picking up
students will be announced shortly. This will apply to
both school buses and parent drivers. Student safety is
our main concern and, currently, we have too much
congestion at the front of our school, with students
crossing rows of incoming vehicles. Please stay tuned for
news of our revamped traffic flow plan.
I WANT TO WELCOME our new staff
rising members for 2015-2016: Ms. Ambrosi
STARS
(Religion/Social Sciences); Ms. Bak, Mr.
Savoia (English); Ms. Benny, Ms. Rosa
(Mathematics); Ms. Cipriani (Social Sciences); Ms.
Demitcheva (Science/Mathematics); Mr.
Douthwright, Ms. Kim, Mr. Shrubsole (Technological
Studies); Ms. Kwong (Business); Ms. Mariadasan, Ms.
Muto (Science); Ms. Romanelli (English/Religion/
positive
14
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER2015
Mathematics); Ms. Romano (Music); Ms. Santiago
(Modern Languages). I look forward to the many gifts
and talents that you bring to St. Theresa.
I WOULD LIKE TO END MY
doTHE MESSAGE by reminding grade 12 students
right of the letter that both students and parents
THING
signed at the beginning of the semester,
stating the consequences of engaging in any
year-end nonsense. We were all very proud of the 2015
graduates, and I challenge the graduating class of 2016 to
continue in their footsteps.
MY DEAR GRADUATING STUDENTS OF 2016:
please remember that it is so easy to do the wrong things
in life and so hard to do the right things. Please do the
right thing as your career at St. Theresa is coming to an
end. Do not compromise such beautiful events like Prom
and Graduation over silly issues. These two events will
provide you with memories that you will cherish for the
rest of your lives. When you leave St. Theresa of Lisieux,
feel proud of all the good things that you accomplished,
and leave on a good note.
I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST, AND MAY GOD
BLESS!
Students are selected by staff to receive the ‘Lion of the
Month Award’ for doing the ordinary things in an
extraordinary way: being a good
role model, willing to help others,
performing good deeds within the
community, and involvement in
activities, good behaviour, and
academic effort. ‘Lions of the Month’ receive a certificate
and a gift from the school. Our September Lions are:
Biaggio Alicandro, Tiffany Alvarez, Christina
Andreu, Aaliyah Aumeer, Amina Aumeer, Hayden
Cheung, Isabella Cinelli, Dante Colucci, Joseph Dalal,
Nicolette Di Cianna, Tessa Di Vizio, Miriam Henin,
Danielle Kuznetsova, Eva Lood, Julia Malizia,
Hayden Meadows, Ashley Sandrasagra, Alexandra
Sanita, Duncan Scullion.
On October 21, the St. Theresa of
Lisieux community celebrated the academic accomplishments of 582 students during
two ceremonies, which were held in our school cafetorium.
Each awards celebration was witnessed by numerous smiling family members. During
the 2014-2015 school year, these students had attained honor roll status and/or
received a subject award. For many of our senior students, attendance at this event is
a repeat occurrence. We are so proud of their great efforts and attention to learning.
Sincere thanks to our Steering Committee, which was chaired by Ms. Lyander, Ms. Fiacco, and Ms. Tomasone,
and to all those who contributed to the success of this year’s ceremonies.
T H E R E S A
O F
L I S I E U X
C A T H O L I C
H I G H
PRAYER FOR
OCTOBER
This day,
Father,
may my eyes
be opened
to see the
beauty
in all that is
ordinary yet special around me.
May the glory
of all that you
have made
remind me of
your presence
and lead me
closer to you.
‘LIONS OF THE MONTH’ FOR SEPTEMBER
CELEBRATING ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE.
S T .
Melissa Lo, Paige Mason, Stefani Fabian, 50 m Freestyle, Thornlea Prep Meet
TheLittleFlower
S C H O O L
2 3 0
S H A F T S B U R Y
A V E N U E
R I C H M O N D
H I L L
HOLY FATHER’S
PRAYER
INTENTIONS
FOR OCTOBER
Universal
That human
trafficking, the
modern form of
slavery, may be
eradicated.
Evangelization
That with a
missionary spirit
the Christian
communities of
Asia may
announce the
Gospel to those
who are still
awaiting it.
O N T A R I O
L 4 C 0 E 8
2
CHAPLAINCY
LAUNCHES
SCHOOL
SUPPLIES DRIVE
FOR TANZANIA
[BY LAUREN
FERNANDEZ]
Chaplaincy Council hosted their premier
School Supplies Drive: from October 5 to
9, homeroom classrooms gathered new
school supplies and gently used backpacks
to donate to schools and orphanages in
Tanzania. STL donated a total of 9600
items. Chaplaincy Council would like to
give a huge thank you to the STL
community for their generosity. With the
donations received, our community will be
helping provide the proper tools needed for
a successful learning experience. These
small acts of kindness will greatly impact
the students receiving them.
SOCIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL plans to share its
passion for justice in another superb school
year. We endeavour to promote equal living
and opportunities among the Global
Community. YLCC has pepped and prepped
our members for this year’s events. Down
Syndrome Awareness Week will be the
opening SJ event, from November 2 to 6.
Videos will be played to educate the student
body about Down Syndrome, and bracelets
will be sold to raise funds in support of the
cause. Soon after, Operation St. Nick will
occur, from November 30 to December 4.
Last year, we broke our record, donating
over 20,000 non-perishable food and
clothing items; this year, we hope to surpass
this record. Let’s get going and spread the
Christmas cheer to all, in the little ways of
our patron, St. Theresa.
►After a brief rest, we will return at full
force in second semester. From our annual
Used Book Drive, to our Baby Shower, to
SJ Week, this school year is filled with
wonderful opportunities for STL to
contribute and get involved.
►As a council, we strive for equal rights
and opportunities, regardless of class, race,
beliefs, or gender. We hope that these ideals
will become a common mindset for our
students. The fire in our hearts will
hopefully kindle the hearts of all at STL.
SPOOKY SPIRITED SKELETONS AND
ROBOTS! [BY ANNA KATYUKHINA]
After an amazing time at YLCC, Spirit
Council is hot to go! And with Halloween
around the corner, we’re ready for an
extraordinary year. We will be running
several Halloween events, and we are
excited to bring a new element to the event
this year. On the morning of October 30,
talented students will be doing gory makeup
for anyone who signed up. Come by and see
some of STL’s talent! On the same day, we
have our annual Costume Contest. Get
creative and represent your class or sign up
in pairs and/or groups outside the cafeteria
during lunch, from October 26 to 29. Also,
don’t forget to come out in your costume
with your friends and get your photos taken
during lunch. We can’t wait to see your
amazing costumes! After finishing all your
Halloween candy, get ready for Battle Of
The Sexes (B.O.T.S.). Show your spirit and
make sure to fight for your team, from
November 9 to 13. Stay tuned for more on
our events throughout the year! Go, Lions,
Go!
STUDENT COUNCIL has an abundance of
action-packed events for the student body!
On October 30, Student Council will be
hosting its Count Candy event! Students are
encouraged to guess the amount of candy in
a gigantic jar; the winner gets to keep all of
it!
►On November 26, we’ll also be hosting
our Semi Formal! This year’s theme is A
Night At The Oscars, so don’t be afraid to
dress to the nines! Unfortunately, we are not
yet able to confirm appearances by Jennifer
Lawrence and Brad Pitt’s, but stay tuned!
Student Council looks forward to an
amazing school year! Remember, STL, if
you have any suggestions, don’t be afraid to
put them in the Suggestion Box next to the
Student Government board. We can’t wait
to hear from you!
DODGEBALL DROP-IN ’A HIT’: [BY PARSA
POUYAN] On October 20, Intramural
Council hosted their annual Dodgeball Drop
-In. The tournament was an exhilarating
one from the moment the whistle blew.
Roughly 50 enthusiastic guys and girls from
all grades competed with one goal in mind:
to be declared champions. Teams fought
hard and left everything they had on the
court. From MLB-like fastballs to acrobatic
dodges, the event had it all. However, in the
final matchup, FHN beat Team No Name to
retain their
prestigious title of
Dodgeball Drop-in
Champions of
2015. The event
was a success, and
Intramural thanks
everyone that
participated. We
Intramural Council members
hope to see you all
and Dodgeball Drop-in
at our Hockey
participants Jordan Kleine and
Hooman Tahmasebipour
Drop-In in
November.
YLCC 2015: St. Theresa’s excursion to
YLCC was once again a roaring success!
On October 5, 9 councils, 21 staff, and 135
students, attended the Y outh Leadership
Camp of Canada, in Orillia.
►It was an early start to the chilly morning:
the young troops had boarded the bus by 7
o’clock. Full of energy, the buses rang with
tunes from the Top 20 chart, childhood
rhymes, and bursts of laughter. Eventually,
the songs were cut short as the buses pulled
into the splendid grounds of YLCC. One
brief breakfast later and the councils were
off to discover more about their peers, as
well as themselves. In their huddled groups
they laughed and chattered, a melody which
spread throughout the assembly like
wildfire. The excitement peaked at the
sounds of the first battle cry: the game of
tag had begun. It was a massive game of
every-man-for-her/himself, with over 150
participants. Alliances were formed,
ultimately uniting all of the councils. After
the game, the councils continued to explore
new relationships in many activities.
Whether they were at a High Ropes course,
Ice Wall, Lava Crossing, or other activity,
3
their essential skills for teamwork were
improved through encouragement, trust,
and laughter.
►As the sun set, the young campers,
still spirited, marched over to their
favourite spots by YLCC’s beloved
campfire. Hosted by Student’s Kayla
Pandza and Spir it’s Nikki Puchkov, the
remaining hours at YLCC were cheered,
danced, and, unfortunately, melted away.
Superb performances by all nine
councils and their presidents would
surely remain in the hearts of all who
attended. However, as Nelly Furtado
states, “all good things come to an end.”
The sky was dark, the campfire flickered
out, and the students returned to their
buses to begin their journey home.
►Every minute of YLCC was packed
with new experiences: from a grand sing
-along at lunch to being suspended 25
feet in the air. YLCC has, once again,
succeeded in preparing each council
member for the exciting prospect of
venturing through the school year as a
family. The memories made from that
one day are more than enough to last a
lifetime.
RECYCLING OUR WAY TO A CLEAN
WORLD [BY SHELLY TEMNIK]
The environment takes no break when it
comes to sustainability, so why should
we? Environmental Council began
planning for RAW (Recycling
Awareness Week, September 21 to 23),
from our very first meeting. Over the
course of the three days, students learned
what goes where through the interactive
E-Play game developed by Angel Shon
on Kahoot! Over 100 students
participated during each lunch and
proved their knowledge of recycling.
Our emcees encouraged students to keep
the nicknames appropriate to ensure a
successful game.
At YLCC on October 5, we showed our
spirit through our amazing cheers and
eager participation in all of our events.
Although we were
split up for most of
the day, we came
together at lunch to
chat and sing as one
council. Through the
team games, we
learned that they
were not
competitions, but were meant to bring us
together as one larger team. The Enviro
cheer at the end of the day was a success
and made the other councils laugh along
with us.
►The biannual Fall Park Clean-Up on
October 14 after school was a booming
success, as over 60 volunteers helped
clean our school! Thank you so much to
all those who came out in the cold and to
Chairs Angel Shon and Shelly Temnik!
Coming up are Water Week (November
23) and Movie Night (December 17).
Business and Finance and
Entrepreneurs, Oh My!
►BY MR. SHRUBSOLE, DECA
CHAPTER LEAD ADVISOR
The student members of STL’s 2015-16
DECA Chapter are hard at work prepping
for the Regional
competition on
November 7, at
Pierre Elliott Trudeau High School, in
Markham.
A Business-focused venture, DECA
prepares emerging leaders and
entrepreneurs in hospitality,
marketing, law, finance and
management in high schools and
post-secondary institutions across
Ontario. DECA members compete
in a number of categories, including
Business Finance, Marketing
Management, Retail
Merchandising, Business Law and
Ethics, Sports and Entertainment
Marketing, and Travel and
Tourism.
Finalists in the Regional
competition move on to the
Provincial competition
next February 7 to 9 at the Sheraton
Centre in Toronto, with the winners
there having the chance to compete at the
ICDC (International Career Development
Conference) in Nashville, Tennessee
on March 1, 2016. St. Theresa has been
very successful over the years in this
competition, and we plan to continue that
winning tradition.
Special thanks to Michelle Hoang and
Vivian Zhang, STL DECA Chapter
Student Presidents, for all their hard work
and dedication prepping the team.
“What keeps life fascinating is
the constant creativity of the
soul.” – DEEPAK CHOPRA
►BY MS. SANTAGATO-DAVIES, HEAD,
DEPARTMENT OF ARTS
The Drama, Music, and Visual Arts courses are
in full swing! Our stage, music rooms, and art
classes are full to capacity with students
creating work not only to share with their
classmates, but to share with the school
community. In the next few months, the Arts
students will be given the opportunity to enjoy
drama, music, and art, compliments of our
talented students. Read on!
DRAMA: The Grade 12 Dramatic Arts students are
currently creating an ensemble performance for
our Remembrance Day assemblies to be
performed for all grades. Tableau, monologues,
and song will be used to create a presentation to
honour all of the men and women who have died
fighting for their country. This same Grade 12
class is also rehearsing for our annual Senior
Drama Showcase performance. Last year’s
student written performance, The Green Room,
despite some comedic scenes, was for the most
part, a serious, thought-provoking show. This
year, the student group has their hearts set on the
comedy of Woody Allen, and Canadian writer,
Daniel MacIvor. Tickets will go on sale in late
November. Stay tuned! Death and Comedy (a
working title): December 3, 2015, 7:00pm, in
the Theatre
MUSIC / VISUAL ARTS: Music is meant to be
heard! Over 100 senior music and vocal students
will tour our feeder schools on December 1 and
2. The elementary students will be introduced to
different genres of music: concert band
repertoire, popular music, choral repertoire, and
jazz standards. School visits are a great tradition
that benefit both the STL musicians and the
young audiences that we hope will become our
future musicians at STL. ►Our Christmas Arts
Night will take place on December 9 in the
cafeteria. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear
our bands play the music that they have been
preparing since September, and to enjoy the
Visual Arts students’ work that will be on
display in the Great Hall. ►Students that want
to work on Visual Arts projects outside of Art
courses are encouraged to join the Art Club that
runs every Thursday after school in Room 102.
►Our Arts New York Trip is planned for April 6
to 10, 2016. Students who ar e enr olled in
grade 11 or 12 Visual Arts or Dramatic Arts are
eligible to attend. The trip is a great chance to
see Broadway shows, visit galleries, and
experience the art and culture of New York.
Contact Mr. Meiorin for more information.
4
“Those who know many languages live as many lives as the
languages they know.” – CZECH PROVERB
►BY MR. MARCUZZI, HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF MODERN LANGUAGES
WE
WELCOME THE 313
STUDENTS who are enrolled in
French and Italian courses this
semester, of which 223 are new
to the St. Theresa of Lisieux
community. We also welcome French teacher,
Mme Anne Santiago, to our Department, and
M. Marcuzzi, Mme Sabatini, Mme Santiago, M. Puopolo,
M. Fenuta (Student teacher, York University)
Mr. Robert Fenuta, who will intern in
M. Puopolo and Mme Sabatini’s classes.
A PREFATORY NOTE to students and parents, as we work collaboratively to foster
student learning and success:
STUDENTS: Avail yourselves of the learning opportunities that our Department offers,
both within and beyond the classroom. Work hard to achieve your best, and know that
you have the full support of our teachers. We invite you to take advantage of the
opportunity to develop your language skills at The Language Clinic: a series of ten Friday
practice sessions that are open to all our students. Each week, a team of one teacher and
three mentors are on hand to work with students to improve their fluency.
PARENTS: We urge you to support your child’s efforts by ensuring that s/he complete
assignments on a regular basis. As well, feel free to contact your child’s teacher if you
have questions or concerns regarding your child’s progress.
THE WEEKLY REMEDIAL PROGRAM, The Language Clinic
practice (TLC), entering its fourteenth year, will be offered on Fridays (2:20 pm to
IS THE BEST
3 pm), from September 11 to November 13. Working with students who
MASTER
attend the sessions will be M. Marcuzzi, M. Puopolo and our fifteenmember mentorial Team TLC: Kasra Asgarpour, Katrina Cecco, Brittany
Chang-Kit, Cassandra Chapi, Nicole Coman, Tessa Di Vizio, Kimia FamilDardeshti, Daria Gamaley, Parastoo Ghahari, Margherita Giambattista, Justin
Huh, Sofia Ilina, Michelle
Koo, Liora Lipat, and
TABLEAU D’HONNEUR, SEMESTRE II, 2015
Maya Pavlova.
FSF1P FSF1D FSF2D FSF3U FSF4U
WE ARE
TOUR DE VERY
# OF REGISTRANTS
22
64
10
16
17
force PLEASED to
WHO ATTAINED 80%
share our
TOTAL NUMBER OF
72
114
33
22
20
Tableau d’honneur for the
REGISTRANTS
second semester last year,
% OF REGISTRANTS,
with an impressive 49.4% of
BY COURSE, WHO
30.6
56.1
30.3
72.7
85.0
ATTAINED 80%
registrants achieving a
minimum grade of 80% in
OVERALL % OF
REGISTRANTS WHO
49.4
their French courses.
ATTAINED 80%
Félicitations à ces élèves, et
à tous nos élèves, pour les
efforts que vous avez exercés dans vos cours! The 129 students who earned honor roll
status in these courses will receive a Certificat de mérite from the Department in early
November.
AT OUR 13TH ACADEMIC AWARDS ASSEMBLIES
on October 21, parents and special guests joined our school
community in applauding the achievements of our students
during the 2014-2015 school year. Receiving Subject
Awards for the highest marks in French and Italian courses
were: Jina Ha (FSF1P); Vanessa Tang (FSF1D); Maya
Pavlova (FSF2D); Maria Tabib (FSF3U); Jeffrey Lam
TOP FRENCH MARKS: Tabib, Tang,
Shin Cheung (FSF4U); Angela Tobia, Stefanie Fiore
Pavlova, Ha
(LWIBD2); and Antonio Riccio (LWICU3). In addition to
their Certificats, French students received a Oui, je parle français T-shirt (designed by M.
Marcuzzi) in r ecognition of their special achievement.
OUR ‘FRENCH FRIDAY’ PRAYER OFFERING over the P.A. resumed on October
2. Bolstered by the addition of a handful of new members, Team Lavoix now has 20
lectors, who share the anthem and (morning and afternoon) prayer dans la belle langue.
Offerings have been
selected according to
D'ABORD
the liturgical calendar
donner DU TEMPS
and in celebration of
à Dieu.
RAYMOND BOUCHEX,
solemnities and feasts.
ARCHEVÊQUE D'AVIGNON
Twenty-two recorded
versions of Lavallée’s
Ô Canada (bilingual, français, orchestral)
and First Friday live renditions will be
presented – in this way, exposing students
to a variety of musical interpretations and
artists who show a fluency singing in both
languages. Thank you to Margherita
Giambattista, who per for med our
anthem live on October 2. Special thanks
to our lectors Anne Adriano, Kasra
Asgarpour, Erica Burlac, Brittany
Chang Kit, Meggie Chen, Victor Chyhir,
Nicolette Di Stefano, Tessa Di Vizio,
Mariya Dobrovolska, Daria Gamaley,
Margherita Giambattista, Sofia Ilina,
Michelle Koo, Gamsa Lee, Navid Nahidi,
Christopher Nguyen, Maya Pavlova,
Renée Rubino, Priscilla Shirazi, and
Maria Tabib, for taking on the 31-week
commitment of sharing this beautiful
prayer service with our community.
prier C'EST
B: Agulan, p. Jean, Keller; F: Ilina, Cornacchia, Carcasole,
Giambattista, Puchkov, Shon, M. Marcuzzi; A: Climacosa,
Rahbar.
«Celui qui accueillera un enfant comme
celui-ci en mon nom, c’est moi qu’il
accueille.» –MATTHIEU 18, 1-5.10
On October 2, our three Period 1 French
classes celebrated the year’s first Mass in
French, in our Chapel. Sincere thanks to
celebrant père Jean Al Alam; lectors Mark
Agulan, Sofia Ilina, Sofia Cornacchia,
and Cassandra Carcasole; crossbearer
Daniel Keller; altar ser ver Jada
Climacosa; member s of In nomine
Patris (Margherita Giambattista, vocals;
Nikki Puchkov, keyboar ds; Angel Shon,
flautist); photographer Kamran Rahbar;
and M. Marcuzzi, who coordinated the
First Friday liturgy.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: On September
23, grade 11 French students took
in a presentation by Glendon
College Recruitment Officer Mme
Renée Khargie. The Glendon
5
alumna provided students with information
on the College’s programs and
scholarships, and spoke about university
life in general. Students found the
presentation informative and beneficial, as
they consider university options.
ISE ONTARIO: On October 20, grade 9
Academic French classes had the
opportunity to take in one of six
presentations given by Mme Eileen Currie,
representative for International Student
Exchange (ISE) Ontario. Mme Currie
spoke of the benefits that come from taking
part in reciprocal student exchange
programs: discovering exciting places and
cultures, developing language skills, and
making friendships abroad. Thank you to
Mme Sabatini for coor dinating the
Glendon College and ISE presentations.
Every second week, FM35 offers
daily French programming.
Students have the opportunity to
view informational, event, Christian
videos, and other offerings on the monitor
displayed outside Room 205.
‘MYSTERY SOLVED’:
DML
Félicitations à Gareth
snippets Choung, who cr acked the
September Rébus junior,
nuit blanche (= sleepless night). He
received a TimCard for his correct entry,
which was drawn among scores of entries.
”ET ENFIN, FAIS UN VŒU!” We continue to
celebrate student birthdays by sharing the
Prière pour un anniversaire, offering a
Frimousse*, with a complimentary Lindor,
and displaying birthday greetings on
FM35. (*Frimousses = Cutiepies: twenty-five distinct cards
en français designed by M.
Marcuzzi).
F. NOVEMBER 13: Six
classes of grade 9 Academic
2 ÉDITION DE SCRABBLEMANIE! L: Grade 9 Gold Trophy champions Shayanne Thomas and
French will
Morgan Shearer, with Silver Finalist Nicole Staz, centre (Pouya Samavat, absent);
MARK YOUR
R: Grade 10 Silver Trophy finalists Parastoo Ghahari and Kimia Famil Dardeshti, and Gold
attend an
Trophy champions Margherita Giambattista and Dasha Ermak.
calendar afternoon
viewing of
semester students, with gold and silver
Barratier’s drama Les choristes (The
Scrabblemanie Trophies awarded to the
Chorus) at the York Catholic District
year’s winning and runner-up pairs.
School Board Centre for the Arts. The
S. APRIL 23, 2016: Third Annual
2004 film was nominated for Best Foreign
Scrabblons pour les enfants (Scrabble 4
Language Film at the 77th Academy
Kids) will bring together students from
Awards.
YRDSB and YCDSB secondary schools
F. NOVEMBER 20: Thr ee classes of
for a French Scrabble competition.
grade 9 Applied French will attend an
Scrabbler pairs will vie for the
afternoon viewing of Spielberg’s drama
Coupe Scrabblons!, with takeLes aventures de Tintin: Le Secret de la
homes for each member of the
Licorne (which is based on The Adventures
winning junior and senior pairs.
of Tintin, the comic series by Belgian
The event also serves as a fundraiser
cartoonist, Hergé) at the York Catholic
for the SickKids Foundation, for
District School Board Centre for the Arts.
which $2,300 have been generated
The 2011 film captured the Golden Globe
from our 2014 and 2015 contests.
Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
WEEK OF NOVEMBER
FIRST FRIDAY MASSES IN FRENCH
30: Third Annual
Parents are cordially invited to join us for our
Scrabblemanie!, an in-class
liturgies in the St. Theresa of Lisieux Chapel.
pairs French Scrabble
TIME
CELEBRANT
tournament for grade 9
13h00
Père Jean Al Alam
NOVEMBER 6
students. Champion pairs emerging from
13h00
Father Ernie De Ciccio
DECEMBER 11
M. Marcuzzi, M. Puopolo, Mme Sabatini
9h30
Père Jean Al Alam
MARCH 4
me
and M Santiago’s classes will go head11h45
Father Ernie De Ciccio
MAY 13
to-head in after school matches to
13h00
Père Jean Al Alam
JUNE
3
determine the semester champions. A twin
tournament will be held for seconde
FIVE SUPERGROUPS ‘IN ALIORUM SERVITIO’
support,
over the
“And I by my works will show you my faith”. – JAMES 2, 18 school
year, to
junior
A Supergroup is a special group in aliorum
peers to help them refine their French
servitio – in service to others – in (and
language skills;
beyond) the St. Theresa of Lisieux
 Every Friday, Team Lavoix shares
Catholic community.
opening and closing prayer with our school
Over the years, four Supergroups have
community over the P.A., en français;
been created within the Department of
 In nomine Patris (In the Name of the
Modern Languages – and, this year, a fifth
Father) is a musical/vocal pool that
has been born, involving a total of 66
enhances our French Masses on six First
students in the pentad.
Fridays. New this year is the inclusion of
 As part of the 20-session The Language
an altar servers group, with Jada Climacosa
Clinic, TLC mentors pr ovide r emedial
Ebin Tomy, Aaron Johnston, and Aaron
Zheng as pioneer
servers;
 Thanks to the
efforts of our
French Scrabble
team, Scrabblons
pour les enfants! works in tandem with
other YCDSB secondary schools to raise
funds for the SickKids Foundation;
 Our newest Supergroup is The Crew,
which oversees the set-up and clean-up of
the Chapel for our six liturgies, as well as
for Scrabblons pour les enfants!, our
annual board-wide tournament-fundraiser.
►We would be remiss if we did not
acknowledge the ongoing – and
inestimable –
contribution of our two
celebrants, Father
Ernesto De Ciccio and
Père Jean Al Alam, who ser ve our
Catholic school community,
notwithstanding their parochial
commitments at St. David Parish, in
Maple, and Mission Catholique SaintFrère-André, in Aurora.
Un grand merci au Père Ernesto et au
Père Jean! Que Dieu vous bénisse!
Many young children in Tanzania make their way to school on foot, despite the distances that they must
cover. Inspired by two bicycle donations that were made during this past summer, Mr. Marcuzzi’s grade 9
French class decided to continue this giving by raising funds for a third bicycle to complement our School
Supplies Drive, which was held in early October.
6
Tennis Team
Performs Admirably;
Branopolski,
Lisyansky Advance
to OFSAA
►BY MS. AH-CHIN
Congratulations to our tennis
team who took to the courts
and competed at the YRAA
Tournament on September 30.
Both the senior and junior
teams played hard and
represented STL proudly. Our Senior Girls Doubles, Senior Boys Doubles, Junior Girls
Doubles and Senior Girls Singles defeated all of their
opponents, advancing to the Championships.
Notwithstanding the colder weather, our athletes
dominated the courts on October 1, bringing home 3 Gold
and 4 Silver medals. Our dream team of Anastasia
Branopolski and Sasha Lisyansky defeated Bayview 84 in the Girls
Senior High
School Division,
earning their
A special thank you to our senior players,
for your years of dedication to tennis: B:
place in the
Anastasia Branopolski, Sasha Lisyansky,
Edward Bangala, William Warrick; F: Eric
OFSAA
Mendicino, Jesse Ning
Championships
in May/June
2016. Ashley Long, J unior Gir ls Singles,
competed in the Open Division and outplayed her
opponent with a phenomenal 8-1, earning her a Gold
medal.
Our Senior Boys Doubles, Jesse Ning and William Warrick, persevered and took silver in a
tiebreak. They will have the opportunity for redemption at OFSAA in the spring. Our Junior
Girls Doubles, Emily Bunch and Maria Tabib, also brought home silver and were defeated in
a final tiebreak. Coaches Ms. Ah-Chin and Mr. Puopolo thank all our athletes for a
fantastic season. We look forward to OFSAA!
Junior Soccer Boys Impressive at Power Invitational
►BY MR. SAVO
The junior boys soccer team were invited for the first time to the prestigious Michael Power
Invitational Tournament, held in Toronto. Being the only York Region school invited and
last year’s
YRAA
champions, the
Lions went in
with all the
pressure on
their
shoulders. As a
pre-season
tournament,
little was
known of how
these boys
would come together. The Lions managed to not only win the tournament, defeating the host
school in the final, 1-0, but managed to go all tournament with zero goals conceded. The
coaching staff is very impressed with the dedication and hard work shown by all team
members. Congratulations, and good luck in the playoffs!
March Break Tour 2016
►BY MR. SAGGESE
Our varsity boys soccer team will again be travelling to Italy this March Break, with
additions to the itinerary, such as viewing a match between Roma and Inter Milan at Rome’s
Stadio Olimpico and visiting the island of Capri and ancient town of Pompeii.
MARCH BREAK TOUR 2015: Spending 13
days in Italy with this fantastic team will
always occupy a special place in our hearts.
It was an unforgettable experience. Students
savoured the cultural heritage of an ancient
country and the energy of playing soccer in
first-class stadiums. The combination of
soccer and culture was perfect! ►Our
journey began in the beautiful mountainous
region of San Gregorio Magno, near the city
of Salerno. “Wow, this place is beautiful”
said Alessio Curti, as he walked through the
streets surrounded by the Appenines of San
Gregorio Magno. The people in this small
town of 5000 were like family, and the food
was delicious and abundant. We stayed in a
FIFA-approved sports complex, run by the
FIGC (Italian Soccer Federation) which was
perfect because the pitch was literally our
backyard! One of our best games was against
the youth team of Vigor Perconti Roma. Our
Lions played an extraordinary game and
managed to come back to tie the game 2-2.
We were complimented by the Salernitana
coach, Luca Fusco, a former Serie A player,
after a close game against his very strong
side, losing 2-1. Many Italian players were
surprised by the quality exhibited by the
Canadesi. ►The excursions were also
amazing. We visited the Amalfi coast and
cruised through the Mediterranean, before
docking in Amalfi and Sorrento, where many
of our boys said: “This place is the most
beautiful we’ve ever seen!” After visiting
these enchanted places, it was time for more
soccer. One of the highlights was the Serie A
game between Napoli and Atalanta in
Naples. The 60 000 cheering on their team,
along with our STL boys, created a majestic
atmosphere! Lucas Magnifico tweeted:
“What an unbelievable time at the Serie A
game … experience of a lifetime”.
►We also visited UNESCO-renowned
Naples, Salerno, the ancient caves of Pertosa
and the Greco-Roman ruins of Paestum. To
visit the Pertosa caves, we crossed an
underground river with waterfalls at every
angle. The Grotte offer an incredible
experience which nature has created over
millions of years. We attended Mass, and
Antonio Riccio r ead in fr ont of the ver y
hospitable local people of San Gregorio
Magno. Another interesting visit was the
buffalo farm, where bufala is made. After a
tour, we sampled some of their products.
►One of the highlights of our trip was
visiting the SSC Napoli training grounds,
where our players met Italian stars Lorenzo
Insigne, Marek Hamšík, Dries Mertens,
and Jonathan de Guzmán. Our boys
interacted with these pros, got autographs
and took pictures. We ended our visit with a
group shot with de Guzmán, our autographed
Canadian flag, and the SSC Napoli
headquarters sign above us. Amazing!
Donovan Watson was star str uck taking his
photo with Kalidou Koulibaly, as was
7
SWIMMERS BRING BACK
COLLECTION OF TOP RIBBONS
FROM THORNLEA MEET
►BY MR. DEOCAMPO
OCTOBER 22, our swim team
competed in the year's first meet in
Thornhill.
Although the competition was quite
intense, every single STL swimmer placed and
swam at competitive times to advance further
into the YRAA season.
The total haul from the competition included
29 first-, 27 second-, and 11 third-place
ribbons: proving once again that our students
are talented in the water!
Coaches Mr. Deocampo, Ms. Romano, and
Mrs. Ambrosi are extremely proud of the entire
team's early tenacious performance and
professional attitude at the Thornlea Prep
Meet.
ON
The team looks forward to training even
harder to prepare for our next meet in
November! Congratulations, Lions! You have
every reason to “Rooooooar" and be proud!
BACK: Siavash Meshkin, 50 m Butterfly
INSET: Andre Sanchez, 100 m Backstroke
Mario Rossetti, on meeting Manolo Gabbiadini.
►After our time in Campania, we were off to Rome to play two tough games
against Vigor and Lazio’s youth team. Despite the result, our boys played
excellent soccer. Captain Marco Marsala stated: “Playing the youth teams of
these professional clubs seems unreal.” The next day we visited St. Peter’s
Basilica. Michael Gurreri tweeted: “At the Coliseum...a dream come true”.
►All 23 players along with the staff should be proud of their accomplishments
both on and off the pitch. It is not common for a high school team to play so
well and compete with clubs such as Lazio and Salernitana. ►“This has been a
once-in-a-lifetime experience playing against some top Italian teams, visiting
these beautiful places and, of course, eating this delicious food”, said Mr. Vito
Lisena, one of the parents on tour with us. Some of our boys documented our
experience on instagram (@stllionsfc). ►The team thanks principal Joe
Servidio and coach Gianluca Saggese for their wor k in or ganizing this
tour, and sponsors ANIX Developments and Northstone Homes Limited.
POST-SECONDARY INFORMATION
►BY MR. KNUFF, HEAD, DEPARTMENT OF GUIDANCE
AND CAREER STUDIES
THERESA IS IN FULL SWING for all Grade 12s in
helping them plan for September 2016. St. Theresa
hosted their 1st Post-Secondary Fair on October 13. It
was a huge success as parents and students had many of
their questions answered directly by college and
university representatives. In addition, the Guidance team has
already conducted Post-Secondary Workshops for all Grade 12
students. Whether it’s off to the world of work, or entry into one of
the many apprenticeship pathways, college or university programs,
all topics were covered in the 40-minute presentation.
►Many universities and colleges host an Open House for students
and their parents; this is an opportunity for the institutions to
showcase their post-secondary offerings. It is strongly recommended
that students and parents participate in these sessions. Listen to the
morning announcements for upcoming dates and times.
St.
UNIVERSITY INFORMATION
When applying to university, Grade 12 students require an O.S.S.D.
that includes 6 courses at the Grade 12 “U” or “M” level (will
include ENG4U1). Be aware that some universities restrict the
number of “M” courses allowed, and some programs require specific
Grade 12 subject prerequisites for admission. For more information
on prerequisites and grade averages, please visit e-INFO
(www.ouac.on.ca).
Important University Dates
►November 3, 2015: The University Application Workshop will be
offered during the students’ Study Hall (if no Study Hall – one
workshop will be hosted after school). Topics include: How to
apply, the costs associated, and other important application
information.
►Late November 2015: Ontario University Application Centre
PINs: St. Ther esa will r eceive PINs for all Gr ade 12 students,
who will use their number to create an OUAC account for their
university application. We strongly advise against sharing your PIN
with anyone other than your parents. Listen to the morning
announcements for PIN arrival information.
►January 13, 2016: University Application Deadline
All online university applications are due. We strongly recommend
that students apply well in advance of this deadline. $150 for 3
choices ($50 for each additional choice).
►November 2015 to July 2016
Courses and grades submitted to OUAC after each reporting period.
Marks for courses taken outside of YCDSB (i.e., private school)
must be submitted from their school directly to OUAC. Graduation
requirements of the 21st Century Student Learner are entirely up to
the student to complete (please refer to S8 Blue Pages of the Student
Agenda).
►Mid-February 2016 to May 2016
Applicants receive response from their university of choice.
May 27, 2016 is the last day for students to receive a response of
admission, refusal or deferred.
COLLEGE INFORMATION
When applying to college, Grade 12 students require an O.S.S.D.;
students should have “U”, “M”, or “C” level courses. Possible
additional admission requirements must be fulfilled (i.e., interview,
program orientation, assessments, portfolio, etc.). Some programs
require specific Grade 11 or 12 subject prerequisites for admission.
For more information on prerequisites (academic and non-academic)
and grade averages, please visit www.ontariocolleges.ca.
Important College Dates
►December 1, 2015: The College Application Workshop will be
offered during the students’ Study Hall (if no Study Hall – one
workshop will be hosted after school). Topics include: How to
apply, the costs associated, and other important application
information. Once the workshop has been completed, students will
have the ability to apply. They will require their OEN (Ontario
Education Number) to complete the application process.
►February 1, 2016: College Application Deadline
All online college applications are due. We strongly recommend that
students apply well in advance of this deadline. $95 for 5 choices
(no additional choices allowed).
►November 2015 to July 2016
Grades submitted to OCAS after each reporting period. Marks for
courses taken outside of YCDSB (i.e., private school) must be
submitted from their school directly to OCAS. Graduation
requirements of the 21st Century Student Learner are entirely up to
the student to complete (please refer to S8 Blue Pages of the Student
Agenda).
►Mid-February 2016 to May 2016
Applicants receive response from their college of choice.
May 1, 2016 is the last day students may confirm a college response
to OCAS.
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS
Skill shortages are a persistent problem in the Canadian labour
market. The high number of skilled tradespeople who will be retiring
within the next decade will compound this problem. This situation
has serious implications in terms of labour market productivity,
growth and competitiveness. This is a great opportunity for young
people to take advantage of this career market turnover.
►There are over 140 skilled professions linked to Apprenticeship
that include four divisions: Construction Sector, Service Sector,
Motive Power Sector, and Industrial Sector. Realizing a significant
shortage of skilled professionals, Federal and Provincial
Governments have financially supported recruitment. Students can
apply for a variety of incentives like: Apprenticeship Incentives
Grant ($2000), Apprenticeship Level Completion bonus ($1500x3),
Apprenticeship Completion Grant ($2000), Tradesperson's Tools
Tax Deduction ($1000), ‘in-school’ tuition cost(s) entirely paid for,
Loan For Tools Program and student loans/grants for tuition not
entirely covered by government; you may also qualify for EI
benefits during your ‘in-school’ technical training sessions.
►The following websites are good resources to start investigating a
career in the skilled trades:
www.apprenticeshipsearch.com
www.skillscanada.com
www.apprenticetrades.ca
For more information on Apprenticeship, please visit your Guidance
or Cooperative Education Department.
For more information on any these topics, please book an
appointment with Guidance to see your Counsellor.
GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS
Students are assigned a Guidance Counsellor based on their
surname:
A to C
XYZ
Mr. Knuff (Department Head)
D to F
R
Ms. Joseph
G to L
Ms. Hayhoe
M to Q
Mr. Wong
S to W
Ms. Emmanuel
THE LITTLE FLOWER
is a bimonthly which is
published five times a
year for parents of the
St. Theresa of Lisieux
Catholic High School community. Current and back issues of
‘The Little Flower’ are available on our school website, at
stlh.ycdsb.ca (under ‘Parents & Students’).
ADMINISTRATIVE ADVISOR Mr. J. Servidio
EDITOR
Mr. G. Marcuzzi
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mr. D. Markle
Mr. M. Deocampo
Kamran Rahbar