Parents' Newsletter, June 2002

32 Pages·2002·2.4 MB·English

by  Selwyn House School

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A Selivyn House SchoolPublication June 2002
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Scl\\"\'n House Parents' Inside
NEWSLETTER
Headmaster's Message
Selu'vn House Parents'Newsletter A Great Day for SEL^XTN House 3
is published four times a year
bv the Advancemeiu Office. School News
Building Project Launched 4
U \'ou have any suggestions or
corrections, please do not hesitate to SHS Scores Essay Hat Trick 5
contact the editor, Richard Wills.
Senior School News
Phone: [phone] ext. 261
Fax:[phone] Senior Prizegiving Ceremonies 6
E-mail: \vills@sel\vyn.ca
Senior Pla^': The Mouse that Roared 8
Advancement Office
COMMEDIA DELL'aRTE 9
James F. McMillan
Director ofAdvancement SHS Best in Quebec in Math Contest 10
Sharon Cozens Jazz Band Takes Toronto by S form U
Director ofAliinuii and
Parent Reunions Career Day a Real Success 12
Richard Wills VisiTE d'un Amer...indienne 13
Publications Editor
Monique Begin La Mort des mots 13
Adi'ance?ne?it OfficeAssistant bookends: a place to share knowledge 14
PHOTOGR,-\PH'i' Middle School News
Richard Wills
La Senlmne Franco-Tech 15
Nathalie Frigon
Claudine Martel Elementary School News
Josh Wolfe
Elementary School Prizegiving 16
Proofreaders
Susan Lord Maternelle Grad 17
Beth McMillan Elementary Track and Field Day 18
Eric Davaze
La Loire historique 19
Remser Scenes from the 2002 SHS Fair 19
Joann Mitchell
Quebec, une experience inoublmble! 20
On the Cover ViSITE DE JEUNES DU FiAITI, DU MALI, ET DU SENEGAL 21
Capital Campaign Co-Chairs Andre
Desmarais and Martha HalKvard Le VOYAGE A Ottawa 2
with SHS students Robbie Campbell JaBOT: UN SITE INTERNET 22
and Maxime Laramee after the
groundbreaking ceremony for the Vive les contes! 23
new building project. Athletic News
See story on page 4.
Selwyn House Athletic Banquet 2002 24
House School SHS Sets the Pace at Halo Race 26
Seevc'^'n
95, chemin Cote St-Antoine SHS Wins Five Medals in Tennis 27 m
Westmount (Quebec) Canada
H3Y2H8 School News I
v.selwyn.ca
PVA Committee Reports 29
1^A Printed on rec)'cled paper
Parent Volunteer Breakfast 31
SHS accredited by the
CESI. Canadian Educational Scenes from Grad Night 2002 32
Standards Institute
I
ter's Message
A
Day
Great for Selwyn House
Thefollowing is an excerptfrom an accommodate modern teaching
address given by William Mitchell, methods and new technologies.
Headmaster of Selwyn House, at the We know, too, that the increased
School's SeniorPrizegiving Ceremonies. financial assistance money that this
A project has raised will contribute
few days from today, we will significandy to the talent and diversity
begin construction to make ot our student body. —
room for the future. We are incredibly tha—nkful
How do I know this? might say overwhelmed at the
I have in my hand the construction success ofthis project.
permit we've so long awaited and for The exceptional support of this
which we've worked so hard. campaign is a remarkable expression
This is a great day for Selwyn ot confidence in the school.
House! This is a great day for English But a school is only as good as its
language schooling! This is a great day students, so we must bear in mind
forworld-class education in Montreal! that the support for this project is
This—project has always been about inspired byour confidence in students
quality the quality of our learning such as you, the graduating class of
and teaching environment. 2002.
The purpose was never to increase Headmaster Mitchell with the The School has benefited from and
enrolment, but to give the school the building permit for the new enjoyed your contributions to the life
facilities warranted by the construction project of the school. Your successes, often
programmes we offer. spectacular, we admire and we
There are times when even in our own homes we have to congratulate you for them. Your prefects have led by
add rooms and renovate. Some would say Selwyn House is example, through their academic excellence, civility and
overdue. The new construction will increase our square positive engagement.
footage by thirty-eight per cent. Your class has been remarkable in its harmony and the
For those of us who learn positive relationships you have
and teach here every day, we developed over your time at
know what a big difference an Thisprojec—t has always been about Selwyn House. Your teachers,
expanded, state-of-the-art quality the quality ofour coaches and instructors have
library/learning centre will expressed their enjoyment of
make. learning and teaching working with you. I believe it's
We know how much better environment. Thepurpose was because you have collectively a
and easier it will be to work in remarkable maturity. You seem
enlarged classrooms that can never to increase enrolment, to enjoy working with the
accommodate modern adults who run the
teaching methods and new but to give the school the programmes. The experiences
technologies more properly facilities warranted by the and the skills you have learned
and efficiently. and the attitudes you have
We know how a larger programmes we offer. developed will serve you
dining hall will contribute to extraordinarily well as your
the civilit)' ofour environment academic and working careers
and permit scheduling flexibility not previously possible. evolve. You have a capacity for getting the most out of a
We know how much a new, modern gymnasium will situation and for doing the hard work with good spirit.
contribute to the quality of our physical education As a class, you have demonstrated a generosity ofspirit.
programme. That is a wonderful foundation upon which to lead useful
We know how much better and easier it will be to work lives.
in enlarged classrooms that can properly and efficiently Congratulations. Thank you, and good luck.
June2002
8.i»r.:
School News
Launched
Building Project
Bv Richard Wills, Newsletter Editor
Members of the Capital Campaign Cabinet, SHS Board Members, and other groundbreaking dignitaries, from left to
right: Harr)- Bloomfield '59, Bryan Fitzpatrick '74, Dr. Hans Black, John Hallward '78, Michael Goldbloom '69,
Allan Levitt, Robbie Campbell (Head Prefect), Garry Garbarino, Andre Desmarais '72, Mark Smith, Martha
Hallward, Norman Tobias '70, Maxime Laramee (in front, youngest boy in school).
Headmaster William Mitchell, Michel Vennat, and Andrea Wolff (architect).
'he weather may not be great, but this is a great while minimizing pedestrian traffic. This phase will be
and historic day for Selw\'n House," said Selwyn completed by the spring of2003.
House Board Chairman Michael Goldbloom at The second phase ofthe project, which will begin in the
the groundbreakingceremony for the School's new building spring of2003, will be to renovate the sixty-seven-year-old
project. Inclement weather forced the June 12 ceremony Lucas Building, home of the Elementary and Middle
indoors, where a "virtual" sod-turning was performed Schools.
before the students and parents assembled for Elementary The entire project will be completed by the fall of2003.
Prizegiving. All this is designed to improve the quality ofeducation
Capital Campaign Board Co-Chairman Andre for students at Sclw\'n House without increasing enrolment
Desmarais was also among the dignitaries on hand to beyond the School's current level ot 560-570 boys in Grades
launch the two-phase $12-million construction and K-11. The fundraising campaign for the building and
renovation project that will increase the School's indoor renovation also raised $500,000 for the School's
space by thirt)'-eight per cent. endowment fund.
One cannot have a great city, a great province, nor a "This has been a community effort in the truest sense,"
great country without great institutions, said Mr. said Mr. Goldbloom, who specifically thanked the
Desmarais. "It's up to us to get involved to ensure that this McConnell, Molson and Webster Foundations for their
school be the very best." support ofthe project. "They are great philanthropic leaders
The first phase of the project, which has now begun, in Canada. We arc fortunate to have them in Montreal and
calls for construction of a new building that will house a especially fortunate to have them as supporters of the
state-of-the-art library and learning centre, computer labs, School.
and a new full-size g\'mnasium, as well as administrative "A school like Selwyn House is a community trust, " Mr.
offices. A tunnel running beneath Stanton Street will Goldbloom concluded. "Each generation is entrusted with
connect this new building to the School's present Senior the school, and has a responsibility to the next generation to
School building, thus maximizing safety for the students ensure that the school sustains its excellence."
The Parents'Newsletter
—
Senior CHOOL News
SHS
Hat
Scores Essay Trick
By Richard Wills, Newsletter Editor
The
dehumanizing "Unfortunately, we
effect of war; the often associate courage in
true meaning of warwith nationalism. The
bravery in war; a wistful more aperson is willing to
remembrance of a father's sacrifice for his country,
love. Three students from the greater the hero he
Selwyn House School becomes. When we look
recently won distinction more closely at what it
with essays that explored really means to be a
these themes. soldier, however, their
Saro Setrakian 1 1B won noble images appear
second-place honours in a slightly altered. They no
competition sponsored by longer embody the
the Canadian Association patriotic men who fight
of Independent Schools for a cause, but they begin
with his fictional essay to resemble a group of
"Armour and Tears. By followers, lacking the
"
describing the horrors of courage to stand up for
war as seen through the their convictions. The war
eyes ofa child, Sato's piece From left: Saro Setrakian, Jonathan Munzar, of Vietnam showed this
examines the ways in and Andy Rosenhek very clearly. When the
which war desensitizes American government
people. made conscription mandatory, there existed a few
"When there is war going on," Saro wrote, "you very individuals who stood out against this. The vast majority of
quickly learn that cryingoveralmostanything is offensive Americans simply followed orders."
because somebody is always worse off Jonathan Munzar lOA recently won first prize in the
"I lived through many horrible experiences during those regional level of the Commonwealth Essay Competition
years, situations in which anybody would have had every with a fictional piece in which a man reminisces about
right to cry^but I never did.... People who haven't been boyhood fishing trips with his late father.
through war, who don't know what things are really like, "My favourite time ofday was always the morning, with
think that everything is dramatic or exciting or glorious.... the anticipation of conquests to come, " Jonathan wrote. "As
War isn't like that at all; it's quick and simple and it's well, at this time just as the sun came up and there was no
disgusting because ofthat quickness and simplicity. wind, the lake's surface was at its stillest. This was the time
"You're six years old, and you wake up in the middle of that the light transformed the dark, impenetrable surface
the night to cry for no good reason," Saro continued. "Then into a smooth, shiny, reflecting mirror. The whole world
you're fourteen and your parents die and you're hardly seemed to be reflected in this vast mirror and, more
affected by it. That's the tragedy ofwar: that, like anything specifically, I could see the faces of both my father and
else, you get used to it." myself I loved echoing my movements to his, and trying to
Andy Rosenhek 1 IC won first place in a province-wide find the most similarities possible in the two reflected
competition sponsored by the Quebec Association of images: the tilt ofthe head, the hunch ofthe shoulders, and
Independent Schools with his essay "Courage or the recoil ofthe arm as the rod is cast.
Cowardice?" Andyquestions the popular image ofvalour in "Although my father has passed on and can no longer be
wartime, suggesting that it may require more courage to my fishing partner, his memory remains with me forever,
resist an immoral order than it does to follow one. And, just as a disturbance on the water creates a rippling
"Without a doubt, it takes bravery to risk one's life effect that spreads in an ever-widening circle, I am a ripple
unnecessarily, but does that demonstrate true courage? I ofmy father," Jonathan wrote.
think not," Andywrote. "True valour comes in standing up The fact that these three students did so well in separate
for one's beliefs, not simply following direct orders to avoid competitions proves that Selwyn House students achieve
any unfavourable consequences. excellence not by accident, but through talent and training.
June2002
"
School News
S E N
I
Prizegiving Speech Credits Students as Teachers
n his valedictory address at the 2002 In closing, Robbie moved from the words of
IPrizegiving Ceremonies on June 20, Head Wordsworth to those of a more contemporary
Prefect Robbie Campbell expressed his poet: Jon Bon Jovi. "When mapping out your
qratitude not only to the School's administration future, use a pencil, not a pen.
and teachers, and to his parents, but also to his Guest speaker Peter Trent, former mayor of
fellow graduates for serving as "remarkable role Westmount, echoed those sentiments when he
models, friends and teachers." exhorted each graduate to "Be a generalist. Don't
"I think the entire Selwyn House experience map out your career too precisely. Travel light
became very clear to me a tew weeks ago," he and be flexible."
reflected. "After speaking at the Bill 104 rally, it These were among the words of advice
occurred to me that here was a group of offered by Mr. Trent, along with a warning not
outraged parents fighting for the right to send Robbie Campbell to pay too much heed to the offerings of
their children to schools like Selw)'n House. dignitaries such as he. "You can admire, but
Seeing this demonstration really let me appreciate just how don't copy," he said. "Follow your own instincts. Be careful
lucky and thankful I am to have attended this school. It ofheroes."
showed me the value ofthe Selw\'n House experience, and Mr. Trent also warned against materialism: "Money is a
really let me treasure everything that's done here." by-product ofwork," he said, "not the end product."
The Selwyn House experience, Robbie said, "has He also urged his young audience to establish their own
—
basically shaped our lives and our personalities and has, moral principles, and to "challenge yourself not others."
more importantly, prepared us for what's to come." Bear in mind, Mr. Trent said, that everyone is insecure,
He alluded to the events of September 11, 2001, some are simply better at concealing it than others.
pointing out the challenges that are implied by the tragedy "You are doubly privileged to live in Canada and be
ofan event that marked the past school year for everyone. educated at Selw\'n House," he concluded, admitting that
"The fall oftheTwin Towers can be viewed as mere rubble, he was "a little bit jealous" ofthe graduates.
but also as a place ofbirth tor a phoenix-like movement by "You are staring the future in the face," he said. "Don't
this year's graduates to tr\' to make a better world, " he said. blink."
Academic Awards
GRADE 7 - 1st, Kyle Burrows; 2nd, Robert Hinrichsen; 3rd, James Dufify
GRADE 8 - 1st, Stefan Luu; 2nd, Niki Thorpe; 3rd, Alexander Hayne
GRADE 9 - 1st, William Martin; 2nd, Shawn Errunza; 3rd, Justin Tan
GRADE 10 - 1st, Michael Woloszyk; 2nd, Scott McMurray; 3rd, Adam Ciepley
Distinction Awards
CHEMISTRY - Keith Martin
PHYSICS -James McKinnev
BIOLOGY - Michael Woloszyk
CREATIVE WRITING - Saro Setrakian Arnold Engel
McCALL PRIZE FOR ART - Alexis Roy with Mr. Trent
ECONOMICS - Alex Bussandri
FRENCH:
LangueMatemelU-James McKinney
Langue Enrichie- Francesco DiMuro and Tim Rossy
Langue Reguli'ere - Chris Chackal Robbie Campbel
GEOGRAPHY - Alex Gatien with Mr. Trent
HISTORY - Arnold Engel and Adam Sternthal
GENERAL CONSULATE OF SPAIN PRIZE FOR SPANISH - John Scalia
THE BYRON W. HARKER PRIZE FOR LITERATURE -James McKinnev
COMPUTER SCIENCE -James McKinney
THE MOODEY PRIZE FOR MATHEMATICS - Robbie Campbell Tim Rossy
THE MASSI PRIZE FOR EFFORT - Jeffy Chui with Mr. Trent
The Parents'Newsletter
W-:*-,'
1^
News
C H O O L
Senior Prizegiving
Special Awards Below — prize winners.
Back row, from left:
THE SELWYN HOUSE CHRONICLE CUP - Robert Hinrichsen Jacob Harris, Andy Rosenhek,
THE MEIGHEN WRITING PRIZE - Scott McMillan,
Alexander Williams-Zannis and Gabriel Maldoff Tim Rossy, Arnold Engel,
THE PUBLIC SPEAKING PRIZE - Arnold Engel John Scalia,
THE E. C. MOODEY DEBATING PRIZE - Saro Setrakian James McKinney,
THE PATRICL\ MARSH DRAMA PRIZE -Jacob Harris Nino Zammit,
THE E.G. BRINE AWARD - Robert Abelson Saro Setrakian, Alexis Roy,
THE JOCK BARCLAY MEMORL\LTROPHY - Stefan Luu Chris Chackal,
THE PHILIP QUAID MEMORL\L PRIZE - Bryce Durafourt and Justin Tan Francesco DiMuro,
THE ERNST BRANDL MEMORL\LTROPHY - William Martin Robbie Campbell,
THE ROBERT A. SPEIRS MEMORL\L AWARD - Corey Zaicman Alex Bussandri,
THE GRADE 10 AWARD -Jarvd Zummer Adam Sternthal,
THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO Josh Wolfe,
NATIONAL BOOKAWARD -James McKinney Keith Martin, and Alex Gatien.
THE THOMAS HENRY PENTLAND MOLSON PRIZE - Robbie Campbell Second row, far left,
THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL'S BRONZE MEDAL -James McKinney Corey Zaicman,
THE YMCA COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD - far right, Jeffy Chui.
Arnold Engel and Nino Zammit Front row, from left: Justin Tan,
THE MILLENNIUM PRIZE Bryce Durafourt,
DONATED BYTHE CLASS OF 1999 - Tim Rossy William Martin, Kyle Burrows,
THE REDPATH HERALD AWARD - Arnold Engel Alexander Hayne,
THE THOMAS CHALMERS BRAINERD MEMORIAL AWARD -Tim Rossy Robert Hinrichsen,
THE JEFFREY RUSSEL PRIZE - Arnold Engel Robert Abelson, Stefan Luu,
THE LUCAS MEMORIAL MEDAL - Robbie Campbell and Shawn Errunza.
June2002
B
Senior School News
Crowd Mouse
Roars at
ByJacob Harris
1 1
In May, the SeniorVeritas Players got the crowd roaring with a zany production of TheMouse thatRoared. Above
left, Jacob Harris and Kate Fletcher; at right, Arnold Engel and Adam Sternthal; below, the entire cast.
The Parents'Newsletter
School News
The Mouse that Roared
Normally, the Selwyn House Players Yet, even with doubt, enthusiasm never
are supposed to start rehearsing for left the actors, and the performance, rather
the senior school play before the than slowly, very quickly and erratically
March break. Unfortunately, our director, jumped into position. When completed,
Alex Ivanovici, had other engagements that The Mouse That Roared made audiences
had him completelyoccupied until after our endlessly break into laughter over its satire
two-week-long holiday. The actors, all of the former Cold War. Even in the short
senior Selw\'n boys plus a cabal ofgirls from time span, with under-rehearsed actors
The Study to match them, frantically improvising props and making sometimes-
worried how a three-hour-long play with odd sound effects. The Mouse That Roared
costumes and choreography could possibly exceeded the expectations of everyone,
be made into a success to match former leaving audiences happy and actors proud.
years. A roaring success, without a doubt.
At right, Arun Khanna in one ofthe many performances that made Mouse
an exercise in controlled insanity.
Commedia
deIFarte
Par Carole Rasmussen, professeur
Le lundi 15 avril, I'ecole grandement caricatures pour
Selwyn House accueillait M. bien illustrer leur cote
Claude Desjardins, educateur raisonneur, pedant et avare. De
et comedien de metier, pour faire lautre cote, Arlequin et
decouvrir «la commedia deirarte>' Pulcinella, deux serviteurs
a tous les etudiants de la lOe annee. repondant aux ordres des
Cet art, ne en Italie, etait presente riches, etaient connus pour la
au I6e siecle par des troupes fa^on dont ils se moquaient de
professionnelles qui voulaient leurs maitres. Encore
plaire et divertir pour gagner de aujourd'hui, ces personnages
i'argent. Puisque certains acteurs font partie du monde theatral
avaient ete formes a I'ecole de la et continuent a denoncer les
farce et des jongleurs de foire, il inegalites sociales.
leur etait facile d'improviser durant Apres que I'animateur a
les representations afin de faire rire. presente les principaux
M. Desjardins a done reussi a personnages de la commedia
bien nous faire decouvrir la Tom Spencer and Sam fish iUA iry on the dell'arte, les etudiants de la lOe
naissance de cet art et a nous faire traditional Commedia deilarte masks. annees ont eu droit a un petit
comprendre comment la culture exercice de rechauffement;
italienne en est une d'expression et de comedie. A I'epoque, puis, en groupe de deux, c'etait a leur tour de se mettre dans
il y avait de grandes injustices puisque les pauvres la peau d'un des cinq personnages etudies et de nous
composaient la majorite de la population dominee par une presenter des «lazzi» (jeux de scenes bouffons). Que ce soit
poignee de riches. Ainsi, les comediens de la commedia entre le Docteur et Arlequin ou le Capitaine et Pulcinella,
dell'arte cherchaient-ils a denoncer ces injustices sous forme chaque etudiant, derriere son masque, s'est reellement pris
de comedie. au jeu et nous a fait une formidable presentation.
Certains personnages tels que le Docteur, le Capitaine et M. Desjardins a meme ete surpris de la qualite du jeu de
Pantalon, qui representaient la minorite riche, etaient nos etudiants de lOe annee! Bravo a tous!
June2002
School News
S E N I,
SHS Math
Team Quebec
Best in in
B\' Andrew Liimsden, Senior Math Department Head
The
aggregate score of the
top three Selvvyn House
contestants was the best
ofanv school in the province in
the Grade 1 1 Fermat Contest,
written last February. Rob
Campbell, James McKinney
and Jacob Harris, who tied for
third, made up the Selw\n
House team along with
Michael Sterle-Contala. Rob
had a perfect score of 150
points, and the team managed
420 out ofa possible 450.
Because of his outstanding
performance, Rob was invited
again this year to the annual
Waterloo Mathematics Contest
Seminar from June 9—15, an
invitation he had to decline
because of final exams at
Selw)'n House. However, Rob
and James did qualif)' to write From left: Jacob Harris, Michael Sterle-Contala, James McKinney and Robbie
the Invitational Mathematics Campbell receive a plaque from Math Teacher Phil Litvack
Challenge, which is open to and HeadmasterWilliam Mitchell.
about the best one per cent of
those who wrote across Canada. All the Grade 7s and all the Grade
Mr. Litvack's Grade 1 1 calculus 8s write the Canadian National
class was also entered in the Euclid Mathematics League (University of
Contest for Grade 12 and/or CEGEP, Windsor) competition in Februaryand
Year 1. James McKinney, Jacob Harris the Gauss Contest in May. The Gauss
and Saro Setrakian had the best scores, results are not yet in, but in the
which earned SHS a fifth place CNML contest, our 7s were seventh
provincially behind Marianopolis, provincially. Our best scores belonged
Dawson and two high schools. to Robert Hinrichsen, Moo Yup Kim,
The Universit)' ofWaterloo Center Christopher Desrosiers, Jonas Breidis
for Education and Computing also and James Duffy.
writes the Gauss, Pascal and Cayley In Grade 8, Niki Thorpe, SungJun
contests for Grades 8, 9 and 10. In the Bae, Stefan Luu, Christopher Yee
Pascal Competition, Shawn Errunza, Wong, Michael Sutton and Philip
Br)'ce Durafourt and Ton Jin Quan Smith (tied), are to be congratulated
had the best scores, which produced a for a very good showing provincially,
ranking of 84th among 1,012 third place and among the top twenty
participating schools in Canada. The of396 schools nationally. David Smucker 9C placed fifth at
top scores in Grade 10 were those of Finally, if ac + ad + be + bd = 68 the national level ofthe Great
Canadian Geography Challenge.
Sean Maislin, Corey Zalcman and and the value of c + d = 4, find the
Zach Grcenberg. This gave Selwyn a value of a + b + c + d. The competition took place on
ranking of 1 19th ofabout 995 schools May 20 at the Canadian Museum
ofNature in Ottawa.
in the country. [12=J3MSUV]
The Parents'Newsletter 10