Parents' Newsletter, June 2003

52 Pages·2003·3.8 MB·English

by  Selwyn House School

SS4
ewsletter
1
Selwyn House Parents' Inside
NEWSLETTER
Headmaster's Message: newbuilding namlu horspeirs 3
Electronic Newslettercontinues next year 3
Selwyn House Parents'Newsletter
is published on line by the Senior School News
Advancement Office, and is compiled Prizegiving mixes milestones, mourning 4
in print form once a year. Senior Honour Roll 6
Ifyou have any suggestions or Career Day: Professionals as professors 7
corrections, please do not hesitate to Senior Play: Rhinoceros 8
contact the editor, Richard Wills. Close, but no cigar, for Gryphon robot 10
Phone: [phone] ext. 261 Tan wins at Canada-Wide Science Fair 1
Fax: [phone] Bernstein finishes ninth at Worlds 12
E-mail: [email protected] Bloomfield places second at QAIS 13
Matt Litvack wins SHS public speaking 13
Advancement Office
James E McMillan Middle School News
DirectorofAdvancement Stalwart students trekthrough Italy, France 14
Sharon Cozens Middle School students 'Open the Box' 15
Director ofAlumni and Middle School Science Fair 15
Parent Relations Middle School Honour roll 17
Christine Gervais Middle SChool Presents/t/i/cs Caesar 18
Coordinator, Parent Relations
Richard Wills Elementary School News
Publications Editor Grade 6 students fj(pi.ore Ottawa 16
Monique Begin
Grade Awards 19
Advancement OfficeAssistant Grade 6 Graduation 22
Photography Kindergarten Graduation 23
ElementaryTrack AND Field Day 24
Richard Wills
Grade 6 Reporters Math Ol'V'mplans vcin medals 25
Bill Bedard Scenes from SHS Fair 2003 25
Alexis Youssef lOB Les ElEves de la cinquiEmeannEe a Quebec 26
Claudine Martel Selwyn House Film Festival draws rave reviews 27
Sonya Jean La musique bat son plein A Selwytm House 28
Liza Kaufman Joan MirO, vous connaissez? 29
Jim McLean 75 La dictEe RG.L. Le franqais au service de la cfiNfiROsrrt 30
SHS Media KingMidasAND thePalaceofGold 30
Julie Heath Two chess teams viace second in hot competition 31
Dispatches from Creative Writing Week 32
Proofreaders
Marsha Warmuth Athletic News
Pat Patterson Gridiron Gryphons: Bantams taketitle; Seniors take division 34
SHS wins GMAA Midget basketballtitle 35
Reviser 2003 Halo Race results 36
Joann Mitchell Grade 5/6 hockeyteam back from Toronto undefeated 37
On the Cover Selwyn House Athletic Banquet 38
Bantam Baskeiball team wins at BCS 40
Four ofthe many prize winners Tennisteam serves up soud season 40
at the Prizcgiving ceremonies for the
graduates of2003, left to right: School News
Corey Zalcman, Richard Kvvee,
Michael Woloszyk Jazz Bands play for medals, charity 41
and Jaryd Zummcr. 'Brain Lady' makfis mental sparks fly 42
Fleiszer brings Grey Cupto SHS 43
Sei.w^n HoLisi: School Selwyn House hosts New Venrirfj? Fair 44
95, chcmin Cote St-Antoine Eleven students, one teacherjoin Cum Laude Society' 45
Westmount (Quebec) Canada Tfl\c:hers develop new way of evaluating student progress 45
H3Y 2H8 Parent Volunteer Committee Reports 46
www.selwyn.ca Tuition Raffle raises $16,643 48
Printedon recycled paper Virginia Fergl'son named Librarian ofthe Year 49
Parent Volunteers honoured 49
SHS accredited by the Swan Song...so to speak 50
Canadian Educational Scenes from Grad Night 2003 S2
SrANDARDs iNs'rnxrrE
.
Message
Remembering a young gentleman
By William Mitchell, Headmaster
Our
school year ended in As a talented athlete, he was
tremendous shock and valued as aselfless teammate and
griefwhen we learned on for his determination.
June 6 of the tragic accidental As a citizen of our
death ofAdityaPathak, a Grade9 community, Addy was the
studentin his thirdyearatSelwyn epitome ofwhat we expect from
House. a fully engaged and positive
Consequently, my message is contributor to school life.
that, in remembering Addy, we Everyone speaks of his
reflect on what his too-short life delightful and playful sense of
taught us and that we take a humour and, at times, of his
momentto countourblessingsand mischievous sense offun.
to value ourfamily andfriends. Parents ofAddy's friendswho
Following are my words welcomed him into their homes,
delivered at Addy's funeral. We speakofhowmuch theyenjoyed
intend to further honour Addy's his polite, easy and considerate
memory at our opening assembly interaction with their families
in September. and of how much they enjoyed
On behalf of the entire having him in their homes.
Selwyn House community, I But, it's of Addy as a friend
want to express our deepest that I heard some of the nicest
sadness for the untimely and things. His teacher, Carol
tragic circumstances that bring Manning, said that she observed
us together. Addy Pathak Addy as what she termed an
Even in a world that's not undemanding friend. What a
perfect, this is an unnatural order of how the universe lovelyway to express an important aspect offriendship!
should unfold. When I mentioned this to his friend Brian Hodhod, he
Our expression of sympathy and of condolences to said: "That's it; that's Addy."
Addy's family is boundless. He would always reach out to friends and had a
In sharing memories ofAddywith some ofhis teachers, remarkable abilityto cheeryou up orhelp you putthings in
his friends and his friends' parents, I've gotten to know perspective.
Addy better than I had. With admiration and with thanks for the contributions
My respect for him grewwith each conversation. he made to our lives, I conclude by assuring you that you
As an excellent student, he was admired by both his can only imagine how much we will miss but not forget this
teachers and classmates for his work ethic and intelligence. young gentleman at Selwyn House.
Electronic Newsletter continues next year
The magazine you hold in your hands includes news With the innovation of putting our news on line,
from most of the 2002-2003 school year at Selwyn students and parents can get SHS news while it is still
House. Much of this material has already appeared current, and can also access older articles in the Newsletter
in the on-line Parents Newsletter on the SHS Web site archive. Current and archived articles will be password
(Vww.selwyn.ca) protected for parents and students to view and/or print.
Next year, all news will be initially posted in the on-line Instructions for accessing the electronic version of the
Newsletter. Again next June, a print issue of The Parents' Newsletter will again be circulated through the student
Newsletterwill be distributed thatwill include a compilation mailbag.
of the year's events for those who may have missed seeing We hope parents enjoy accessing school news as it
them on the Web. happens.
June2003
"
p. NioR School News
S E
Prizegiving mixes milestones, mourning
By Richard Wills, Publications Editor
The 2003 Prizegivingwas a mixture ofcelebration and an autonomous learner," he said. "That, I believe, is a gift
grief. The June 19 ceremony was dedicated to the for life and it will serve you, your family and your
memory of Selwyn House Grade 9 student Addy community well in the fiiture. If you exercise it in a
Pathak, whose sudden and tragic accidental death onJune 6 thoughtful, responsible and compassionate way, it has a
had shocked and saddened the School community. great capacity for doing good.
Turning to the topic ofconstruction, a matter that has "In saying this I don't want anyone to be misled. We
permeated the school year, Headmaster William Mitchell don't believe that we as teachers have all the ans%vers. We
thanked faculty, students and parents for their knowwe workwith talented students who for the most part
understanding and cooperation in making a success of welcome the challenge we offer. But, to get their total
"Safety First," which had been a primary concern engagement, we need the help, support and encouragement
throughout the year. He continued by appealing for the of their parents. It's that dynamic that makes the
same degree ofcooperation next year, when we will have to engagementwork- that creates thatspark ofunderstanding
learn how to live in new surroundings and adapt to the or that sigh ofsatisfaction we all experience when we know
implementation of block scheduling, the ACCESS we have done a difficult job well, honestly and responsibly.
programme and laptops in the Middle School. "For that, we thank you and your parents.
"While much ofour focus throughout theyear may have Congratulations. We wish you continued good fortune as
been on our building project, we never lost sight ofdoing you apply your SeKv\'n House experience to your fiiture
all we can to deliver the ver\'J4£st, relsvant, cliajlengingand endeavours.'' . , .
comprehensive programmes,LAIlG|iTitZi@lGliitDy TTl6 I nTQt£fll©«tec\|(Cr*l\^3cman began his valedictory-
I
The Headmaster also took the c)pponunii\- to pr.iisc the .iddrcss b\- praising the Selwyn Housefaculty'. "Theway that
contribution of Michael Goic^lflu.gOOQ 'Wlth tU'ri'Gl^l'^Cl'^T'POr^^ "^ ^^ forever embedded a deeper
Chairman ofthe Selwyn House Board of Dircctois. undcrstaiidiiig ot the world, one which now leaves SelwjTi
"Michael has given absolutely <^^@>|v\/'Vn ljgigseQ'JTiT>Q"jrSt said. "The passion that the staffs has
Chairman during the last sbc years, ivTr. Mi'cnell 'sal passed on to us nas been absorbed into our permanent
"None of our initiatives, none of our planning lor the thinking and eternal values."
Riture, none ofour short-term or long-term decisions, large He also gave credit to his family for the role they have
or small, for the improvement of this school would have played in his education. "How we are nurtured is what we
theirclarity, or theirbase ofsound judgment or their success become," he said. "You have opened aworld ofopportunity'
without the continuing commitment of Michael for me and have shown me the merit ofeducation and the
Goldbloom. He has helped bring the Rinctioning of the importance offamily.
school to a higher level. It is apn enviable legacy and we're gBut, perhaps his most enthusiastic praisewas reser\ed for
eternally grateful." his fellow classmates. "What I realized while reflecting on
The Headmaster then aimed his message directly to the my grade recently is that I couldn't think of one student
fifty graduates of the Class of 2003. "I believe that your who didn't hold his moral convictions close to his heart," he
experience at Selw\'n House has helped each ofvou become said.
"I am definitely leaving
Seluyn House with a
broader look on life solely
because of this year's Grade
1 Is. The key to your success
is your individualit)'.
"Remember that Selwyn
House has been crucial to
the development of
character in the man that
vou are today as you
Corc\' Zaicnian receives the Richard Kwee receixes the Micli.icl \\olos/\k aveiws complete this once
iininiaiyjiilik; ri,tc o\
Be2003selw
l!;arc stalls/
.I..VC'
The Parents'Newsletter
School News
St E N O
I
Prizegiving
AcademicAwards Special Awards
Grade 7: 1st, James Rossy; 2nd, Andrew Fitzpatrick; 3rd, Selwyn House Chronicle Cup — Neil Verma
Nathaniel Blumer Meighen Prize for Writing, Grade 8 - Robert Hinrichsen
Grade 8: 1st, Robert Hinrichsen; 2nd, James Duffy; 3rd, Public Speaking Prize - Sean Bernstein
Kyle Burrows E.C. Moodey Prize for Distinction in Debating—
Grade 9: 1st, Stefan Luu; 2nd, Niki Thorpe; 3rd, Chris Sean Bernstein, Daniel Budd
Wong Patricia Marsh Drama Prize - Matt Litvack, Adam Cieply
Grade 10: 1st, Bryce Durafourt; 2nd, William Martin; E.G. Brine Award - Luca Melnychuk, Ryan Quinn
3rd, Shawn Errunza Jock Barclay Memorial Trophy - Samer Balaghi
Philip Quaid Memorial Prize — Stefan Luu
Distinction Awards Ernst Brandl Memorial Trophy - Niki Thorpe
Chemistr)' and McGill Science Award - Scott McMurray Robert A. Speirs Memorial Award — Bryce Durafourt
Physics - Michael Woloszyk Grade 1 Award - William Martin
Biology — William Martin University ofToronto National BookAward—
Creative Writing - Matt Litvack Michael Woloszyk
McCall Prize for Art - GeoffDyck, JaredTauben Thomas Henry Pentland Molson Prize - Scott McMurray
Economics -Jamie Rudolph-Zbarsky Governor General's Bronze Medal - Michael Wolosz)'k
French - Langue Maternelle, Dylan Jones; Langue YMCA Community Service Award - Miguel Burnier
Enrichie, Richard Kwee; Langue Reguliere, Sean Maislin Millennium Prize (donated by the Class of 1999) -
Geography — Sean Maislin, Arun Khanna Richard Kwee
Christie History Prize - Dylan Jones, Michael Woloszyk Thomas Chalmers Brainerd Memorial Award -
General Consulate ofSpain Prize for Distinction in Richard Kwee
SpanWish - Mani Alaei, Michael Lazar Jeffrey Russel Prize - Corey Zalcman
Byron Harker Prize for Literature - Michael Woloszyk Lucas Memorial Medal -Jaryd Zummer
Computer Science — Matthew Wathier
Moodey Prize for Mathematics - Scott McMurray
Massi Prize for Effort - Miguel Burnier
Back row, from left:
William Martin, Bryce
Durafourt, ShawTi
Errunza, Nicholas
Thorpe. Second row:
Neil Verma, Luca
Melnychuk, Ryan Quinn,
Stefan Luu, Samer
Balaghi, Kyle Burrows,
Robert Hinrichsen
(back), MichaelWolosz)'k
and Scott McMurray.
Third row: Matt Litvack,
Miguel Burnier, Jaiyd
Zummer, Adam Cieply,
Jared Tauben, Richard
Kwee and Daniel Budd.
Front row: Matthew
Wathier, Jamie Rudolph-
Zbarsky, Corey Zalcman,
Dylan Jones, Sean
Bernstein and
GeoflFD>'ck.
June 2003
11
CHOOL News
3 E N
—
Honour March 2003
Senior Roll
*High Honours
Grade 9 Matthew Shadley Christopher Karaplis Joshua Goldsman
*Mani Alaei Jonathan Shen Thomas Kirk Zach Greenberg
Jordan Airman Phihp Smith *Michael Lazar Michael Grover
Sungjun Bae *Niki Thorpe •William Martin Arne Hantson
Aaron Besner Charles Vennat Ben Meadow Dylan Jones
Andrew Bloomfield Benjamin Wilner Ivan Neilson Arun Khanna
Gareth Brown *Christopher Yee Wong Daniel Palardy Richard Kwee
Paul Chamandy-Cook NanXie Valter Pinchiaroli Antoine Leuzy
James Coulton Lee Rovinescu Matt Litvack
Jason Coviensky Grade 10 David Smucker *Scott McMurray
David Di Miele Ben Albright Justin Tan Jonathan Munzar
Aaron Esterson Andrew April Moses Tannenbaum Luka Pavlovic
Alexander Hayne Charles Ayas Paul Tsoukas Thomas Rigby
Bronson Kiu Justin Bahlis Alexis Youssef Jamie Rudolph-Zbarsky
*Stefan Luu Jordan Benjamin Nicholas Tsoukas
Charles Madon Michael Bowey Grade 1 *Matthew Wathier
Gabriel Maldoff Alex Browman Jeff Barkun *Michael Woloszyk
Brendan Munzar Nicholas Cronin Sean Bernstein Alex Wybo
Adirya Pathak Sean Duffy Justin Bourke Corey 2Lalcman
Max Rosenstein *Bryce Durafourt *Adam Cieply Jar)'d Zummer
Olivier Saleh *Shawn Errunza Matthew Firestone
Nick Schouela Max Graham Benjamin Fombonne
Senior Honour Roll— June 2003
*High Honours
Grade 9 Philip Smith *William Martin Arne Hantson
*Mani Alaei Kyle Spiller Ben Meadow Dylan Jones
Jordan Altman *Niki Thorpe *Ivan Neilson Arun Khanna
*SungJun Bae Charles Vennat Daniel Palardy Richard Kwee
Aaron Besner Ben Wilner Valter Pinchiaroli Antoine Leuzy
Andrew Bloomfield *Christopher Yee Wong Joshua Rosenstein Matt Lirvack
Gareth Brown Nan Xie Lee Rovinescu *Scott McMurray
Paul Chamandy-Cook Anshuman Saksena Jonathan Munzar
Philip Clark Grade 10 Nicholas Shadeed Jamie Rudolph-Zbarsk)'
James Coulton Ben Albright David Smucker Matthew Wathier
*Jason Coviensky Andrew April *Justin Tan *Michael Woloszyk
David Di Miele Charles Ayas Moses Tannenbaum Corey Z»ilcman
Aaron Esterson Justin Bahlis Paul Tsoukas Inrv'd Zummer
Alexander Hayne Jordan Benjamin Alexis Youssef
Brian Hodhod Michael Bowey
Bronson Kiu Sean Brophy Grade
1
*Stefan Luu Nicholas Cronin Jeff Barkun
Gabriel Maldoff Sean Duffy Sean Bernstein
Brendan Munzar *Bryce Durafourt Justin Bourke
Aditya Pathak *Shawn Errunza *Adam Cieply
Max Rosenstein Max Graham Matthew Firestone
Olivier Saleh Christopher Karaplis Benjamin Fombonne
Nick Schouela Thomas Kirk Joshua Goldsman
Jonathan Shen Michael Lazar Zach Greenberg
June 2003
-^School News
^z^
_-jaS-^^_^~
Career Day: professionals as professors
This year's Career Day included some
fascinating workshops by volunteers
from various professions on April 15,
followed by on-site tours the following day.
Participants included: Mel Hoppenheim
(film equipment entrepreneur), Matthew
O'Toole (President and CEO, The Hockey
Company), Scott Bailey '96 (Production
Coordinator, Whalley Abbey Media
Holdings), Boris Brott (symphony director
and conductor), Andre Shareck (Partner,
Redbourne Properties), Andrea Wolff and
Elizabeth Shapiro (architects), Duncan Dee
(Vice president of Corporate Affairs, Air
Canada), Bruce McNiven (corporate lawyer),
Mel Hoppenheim Louise Houle
Dr. Tasso Dionisopoulos (Chief of Plastic
Surgery, Jewish General Hospital), Dr.
Thomas Hudson (Director ofthe Montreal
J.
Genome Centre), Chief Warrant Officer
Mario P. DelPinto CD (Royal Canadian Army
Cadets), Captain Bernard Smith (Air Canada),
Alan Case '66 (investment banker), Peter
Edwards (President, Bombardier Business
Aircraft), Prof Margaret A. Somerville
(McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and
Law), Claudio F. Bussandri (McKesson
Canada), Jonathan Blanshay CFA '84
(Managing Director, ReVision Eyewear), Peter
GBC
Morton '66 (Partner, Asset
Management), and Louise Houle (Partner,
Heenan Blaikie LLP).
Matthew O'Toole Andre Shareck
Captain Bernard Smith AndreaWolffand Elizabeth Shapiro
June 2003
School News
OR
S E N
—
Senior Play Rhinoceros
an average person able to resist the compulsion to expressed its disaffection with humanity by deeming life an
Is
conform and be like everyone else? That is the central illogical predicament caused by social forces.
question posed by Eugene lonesco in his 1959 play When Rhinoceros was first produced in Paris in 1960,
Rhinoceros. lonesco was a major exponent oftheTheatre of Jean Louis Barrault directed the play and took the role of
the Absurd, which grew out ofAntonin Artaud'sTheatre of Berenger. Several months later, a London production
Cruelty, a reaction to a world engulfed by war. This was a directed by Orson Welles starred Lawrence Olivier as
time when existentialism dominated intellectual circles, Berenger. The following year, the play was produced on
particularly in France, where lonesco lived. Many of his Broadway starring Eli Wallach as Berenger and Zero Mostel
plays, notably The Chairs and The Bald Soprano, are asJean.
touchstones of the Absurdist Movement. The movement
1 he full cast. Members from Selw)'n House are, back row, from left: Charles Aj-as, Dylan Jones and Nick Tsoukas.
Front row: Miguel Burnier, Charles Vennat, Matt Litvack, Ben Wilner Adam Cieply and Arun Khanna.
The Parents'Newsletter 8
CHOOL News
S E N o^^^^S
I
Rhinoceros
Berenger: Matt Litvack [I^MIW
Jean: Adam Cieply
Daisy: Jessica Davis (The Study)
Dudard: Ben Wilner
The Waitress: EmeseTokes (The Study)
The Grocer's Wife: Stephanie Malouf(The Study)
The Housewife: Lisa Worsley (The Study)
The Grocer: NickTsoukas
The Old Gentleman: Arun Khanna
The Logician: Charles Vennat
The Cafe Proprietor: Miguel Burnier
Mr. Botard: Charles Ayas
Mr. Papillon: Dylan Jones
Mrs. Boeuf: EmeseTokes (The Study)
Fireman: Miguel Burnier
Direction: Alex Ivanovici
Set, Costumes, Props: Robert Leader
Lighting Design: James Richardson
Lighting Operator: Mohsin Aziz
Painters and Lighting Support Staff:
National Theatre School ofCanada
" 1
School News
ClosCy but no cigaVy for Gryphon robot
By Richard Wills, Publications Editor
n paper, it was the best year we've ever had,"
"Oisays Selwyn House science teacher Tom
IDowney. "Wejust don't have a lot ofhardware
to show for it."
Mechanical problems kept the Selwyn House robotics
CRC
team out of the top spots in the final rounds at the
Robotics Competition at College Laval in February.
In the competition, entitled "Hyperbol," robots
designed and built by high school and CEGEP students
competed against one another in a three-dimensional
bowling game. Working in teams of two, the remote-
controlled robots had to pick up foam balls placed on the
playing court and fire them at their opponents' Hyperbol
pins to knock them over, meanwhile blocking the balls
being fired by the two opposing robots.
The competition includes much more than the actual
game. Each school team was also required to produce a
video, a Web page, and a print journal oftheir project, and
set up a kiosk at the competition. Each ofthese projects is
judged as well, and the resulting points determine a school's
final standing.
The Selwyn House robot did not do well in the
Hyperbol game itself However, the SHS team took fourth
place for their journal, fift:h for their video, sixth for their
Web page and ninth among the kiosks. The Gryphons also
won second-place honours for sportsmanship, based on the
votes ofall the students taking part in the competition.
Motor failure on Friday night forced the Selwyn House
team to rebuild the entire electrical system. They were able Scott McMurray tests the drive motors.
to repair the robot, but couldn't regain the momentum they
had going into the event. teachers Brad Moffat, Tom Downey and Mike Downey,
As a strategic design element, the SHS robot included a along with Andre Barrette of College Laval, established
storage bin large enough to scoop up all the balls on the CRC Robotics in affiliation with the Educational Alliance
court and hoard them. "There were only a few robots in the for Science andTechnology', which organizes science fairs in
competition that could hold more than two or three balls at Quebec.
a time," explains Mr. Downey. "We felt we could offer a better educational experience,
The Selwyn House team continued to make design at a lowcostand open to everyone," explains Mike Downey.
changes right up until the day of competition. When "Our goal is to become a national competition."
mechanical problems set them back, the team kept CRC Robotics is growing fast. "Last year we had only
tenaciously working on the robot, even after they had been seven teams. This year we had eighteen. The competition
eliminated from the upper levels ofcompetition. "The kids tripled with no publicity-. Were aiming at thirrk-six teams
were amazing, " Mr. Downey says. next \'ear.
The way the elimination rounds are organized, one After the CRC Robotics competition, the SeUsyn House
mistake can cost a school several places in the final robot was booked for a tour, of sorts. Approximately one
standings. "The difference between last place and the thousand spectators watched the Selwyn House team take
middle of the pack is very small," Mr. Downey points out. part in a robotics demonstration at the ISCI Centre at the
For the first seven years of its robotics programme. Old Port on March 1. On March '^ the robot was a featured
Selw)'n House competed under the aegis ofan organization attraction at the Montreal Bell Science Fair at Pierrefonds
called Canada First. Two years ago, Selwyn House science Continuedonpiige 1
10