Pocock Pride
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Spring is in the air! It seems like winter did not happen this year, except for a few cold
days. Nevertheless, we are halfway through Semester two, with less than three months to
the end of the school.
The spring sports have started up and the game schedules have been posted on our
school web page at www.dpcdsb.org/POCOK. Speaking of the web page, you will notice
that there have been many changes and additions to our online presence and the site is
being continuously updated through the volunteer efforts of a number of staff members.
We have just completed the most solemn time of year – the Lenten season – our community was
involved in solemn remembrances and prayer. The Lenten period began with the Ash Wednesday liturgy. Each
week following Ash Wednesday, every grade celebrated a Lenten Mass. Led by Mr. Smalridge and the Chaplaincy team, and celebrated by Father John Facey from St. Patrick’s Church, the Masses captured the essence
of why and how Catholic education makes a difference in the lives of our youth.
This newsletter accompanies your child’s mid-term report card. We invite you to take the opportunity to
review your son or daughter’s progress and engage in a dialogue intent on continuous improvement. The
fundamental first step to academic success is regular and punctual attendance followed by consistent completion of homework and review. With this in mind, please make plans to attend our parent/teacher interview
night on April 29.
The Parent School Council has been very active. They hold monthly meetings on the fourth Wednesday
of almost every month. The next meeting is April 28. Please try to attend. All parents are welcome.
The School Council is in the process of a fundraising program. This year’s efforts focus on the creation
of a Philip Pocock Cookbook. The idea is to collect recipes from students and their families and staff and to
publish the cookbook in the Fall, in time for Christmas. The cookbook will make a wonderful stocking-stuffer as
well as a great souvenir for staff, students and alumni. I have a cookbook published in 1995 by Sts. Martha and
Mary, when my youngest kids were still students there. We still use it regularly. Please send us your favourite
recipe to include in the cookbook. There will be more information forthcoming regarding this project.
WHO TO CONTACT
Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School
4555 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario L4W 1J9
Telephone ................. 905-602-6172
http://w3.dpcdsb.org/POCOK
Lastly, I encourage parents to subscribe to the
PhilipPocockInfo email list. Please call the school and supply an email address where you can receive information from
the school regarding news and events. Be sure to visit our
Web page periodically – www.dpcdsb.org/POCOK .
Thank you for your continued support of our school as
we continue our mission to provide quality Catholic education to your children.
Elizabeth McGuire, Superintendent
905-890-1221
Mario Pascucci, Chair of the Board, Trustee Wards 1 & 3
Mario.Pascucci@dpcdsb.org
905-624-3663
Anna Abbruscato, Vice-Chair of the Board, Trustee Ward 4
Anna.Abbruscato@dpcdsb.org
905-602-5308
Principal
Henry Tyndorf
Vice-Principals
Sharon Bolger
Marija Burazin
A-K
L-Z
School Council Chair – Margaret Ramlogan
Henry Tyndorf, BASc, MBA, BEd, OCT
Principal
APRIL 2010
ISSUE 3
Staff
ThinkFast!!
On Friday, February 26, fifty students from Philip Pocock
Catholic Secondary School participated in a night of fasting,
fun, and fundraising. ‘ThinkFast’ was an overnight fundraising event in which students raised over $1300.00 for Haiti
and other developing countries. The money was raised as
students gathered pledges in support of their efforts to go
without food for a day and spend the night at the school.
Fasting is a traditional tool of discipline, penitence,
and prayer during Lent, and our students were also
able to get a small ‘taste’ of what it might be like to
live in a country plagued by hunger and economic
injustice.
To help participants understand the issues, Dave McNorgan,
Chaplain at Cathedral High School in Hamilton, led the group
in an information session on the social and historical roots of
poverty in Haiti. After McNorgan’s presentation, the supervising teachers coordinated an evening of sports, games, entertainment, and karaoke.
“It was a great way to learn about the situation in Haiti,”
explained student Marie Kaldchibachi, “while having fun and
getting to know each other.”
“It brought us together as we fasted together, watched the
Olympic Games and learned about the problem in Haiti,” said
another student, An Mai.
All in all, it was the perfect combination of prayer, learning,
social activism, and fun.
Upcoming Events…
Week of May 3 to 7
= Catholic Education Week.
May 12 & 13
= March for Life Ottawa trip.
Students participate in a pro-life rally.
May 20th
= Walk Against Male Violence.
Students participate in a march in Toronto, calling for an end
to violence perpetrated by men against women.
April 28, 2010……………SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
@ 7:30 pm in the Library
April 29, 2010 ….…...PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS
May 2-6, 2010….……...CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK
May 6, 2010 ……… ……………………..FASHION SHOW
May 21, 2010 ……….…………………….CARNIVAL DAY
May 24, 2010 ……….……………….…….VICTORIA DAY
May 26, 2010………..…...SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
@ 7:30 pm in the Library
June 18, 2010……….……………….…..PERIOD 1 EXAMS
June 21, 2010 ………………….………..PERIOD 2 EXAMS
June 22, 2010 ……………………..…….PERIOD 3 EXAMS
June 23, 2010 …………………………...PERIOD 4 EXAMS
June 24, 2010 …………………..ALTERNATE EXAM DAY
June 25, 2010 ……………………………………….....PROM
June 29, 2010 ………………………...……..GRADUATION
GRADUATION MASS @ 11:00 am @ St. Patrick’s Church
B. Dillon - Teacher-Librarian
H. Roane - Library Technician
D. Young - Library Secretary
graphic courtesy of OSLA
Hours
Monday – Friday – 7:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Program
I can’t believe we’re already half-way through the second
semester! As always, the School Library is a busy place.
Teachers have already booked classes through June; in
fact, I’ve actually had to tell teachers who want to book that’s
there’s no more room. And remember, we book two classes
a period for four periods a day. While I must admit I wouldn’t
mind a bit of downtime so I could actually get my desk
organized, being busy is a good thing.
I’ve begun working with Mr. Maddock’s grade 11 University
Biology classes on The Scientific Consumer, the major
research assignment we developed for that course. Each
semester, I revise the research package based on
comments and questions from the previous semester. Of
course, each semester, the students come up with new
comments and questions! The students are finding it a
challenge, partly because it’s a major project, and partly
because we’re trying to break them of their bad research
habits while helping them develop good research habits, and
you know how challenging it can be to break a bad habit.
But they are learning, which is the point of the exercise. Our
goal is twofold, to help the students develop the research
habits they’ll need to succeed in university, and to help them
develop the critical thinking and scientific literacy skills they’ll
need throughout their lives.
This semester, three classes are taking the Orca Challenge.
The students have accepted the challenge of reading at
least three Orca novels over the semester. While this reading will be part of their course mark, the real benefit to the
students will come from the reading itself. The research is
very clear – the best way to improve reading, writing,
vocabulary, spelling, and grammar skills is to read for at
least 10 minutes a day, every day, and daily reading is
exactly what the Orca Challenge is designed to foster.
We’re in the middle of the 2010 White Pine Award Reading
Program, sort of a “teens choice” award for new Canadian
Young Adult novels. Mrs. Roane has created a White Pine
book display with information about the program and a
space for readers to share comments about the books. I’ve
made announcements and visited classes to encourage
students to participate. Voting day is April 23 – which
means there’s still time to read, read, and read some more!
Resources
Ask your son or daughter about the databases they can access from home – there’s a handout available from the
School Library.
In Closing…
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the School Library Information Centre. And
please do drop by if you’re in the school.
written by Brenda Dillon, Teacher-Librarian
Pocock Students Won Three Silver Medals!
Regional Technological Skills Competitions were held on
March 25, 2010 at St. Aloysius Gonzaga secondary school.
The following students represented our school in various
competition areas:
Ivana Batinic, from Mrs. Glavac’s
Hairstyling and Aesthetics' class, was
busy preparing for ‘Dufferin-Peel’s
Skills Competition’ which entailed a
trendy women’s cut and style, an
elegant evening up-do, as well as a
men’s classic cut with a beard
design. When asked how she felt
about the experience her reply was
“At first I was a mess. I was so
nervous about it. I didn’t know how I
would end up doing in the end, but
Mrs. Glavac believed in me and that motivated me to try it
out. The actual day turned out to be amazing. It was so
much fun and I enjoyed myself”.
Andrew Blazic, participated in the Automotive
Service Technician
competition. On top of a
written test and job
interview, the competitions
involved six different tasks
that had to be completed
through the day. The tasks
included: replacing brakes,
making a brake line,
diagnosing electronic and ignition systems of an engine,
identifying electronic system components, and precision
measurements of internal engine parts.
Ryan Morin, participated in the Small Engine competition.
His competition included a written test, a job interview, and
completely disassembling and reassembling a small engine.
He also had to take precision measurements of the internal
engine components before reassembly.
Jose Lagman, participated in the Individual
Carpentry competition. His task was to build a
picnic table in a matter of a few hours.
Jathniel Datiles,
participated in the
Graphic Design
competition.
His task was to design and
produce materials promoting
the 2010 Ontario Technological Skills Competitions. He had
to create a poster, a brochure,
and a choice of t-shirt, button or web home page.
All our students had an exciting fun filled day. No doubt it
was a learning day for them as they have to perform at a
high degree of intensity under pressure of time limitations. It
was so uplifting to see them so focused on their tasks accomplishing so much in a matter of a few hours.
We congratulate Andrew Blazic, Ryan Morin and Ivana Batinic
for their success in acquiring silver medals in their respective
competitions.
On February 26, 2010, students from the Planning for
Independence and Communication Programs participated in the Spirit Soccer Sensation Tournament at St.
Marcellinus Secondary School. In true Pocock Pirate
style, our athletes displayed team work, enthusiasm
and great sportsmanship! Their efforts were rewarded
with a 1st place victory and a trophy to put on display
in the school for the year!
Way to go Pirates!
Two countries, five cities and hundreds of kilometers travelled in
between. This March Break, Mme Ferrari, Mme Tasciotti and a group
of our senior students experienced “The Art of France and Italy”. Art
was on the menu as we meandered through the grand hallways of
some of the most prestigious and inspiring museums of the world:
Le Louvre, le Musée d’Orsay, the Uffizi, and the Vatican Museum.
In France, we were sent back in time, travelling through the medieval city of Chartres and visited its’ beautiful and ancient cathedral.
The Château of Chennonceau made us feel like royalty and the
home of Da Vinci in Clos Lucé brought to life many of the great
master’s inventions. We climbed up the Eiffel Tower by night and
Paris, the city of lights, was lit up before us! The snow-white cathedral of Montmartre beckoned us as we visited the many artists’
shops and squares filled with original artwork.
Our overnight train trip in a couchette, from Paris to Florence was
an experience! We quickly got onto our bus and headed off to the
sleepy hilltop city of Siena. Here we spent the morning walking
through the bustling streets and sitting in the beautiful sun filled
Piazza drinking cappuccinos. Then it was off to Florence, the
jewel of Italy! We visited the famous David in the Accademia,
shopped at the famous Leather Market of San Lorenzo and sat
under the stars in front of the enormous Duomo.
Rome awaited, so we were off to the historic city that is filled with
ancient monuments. St. Peter’s Basilica, the Colosseum, and the
Roman Forum, where we walked upon cobblestones once
traversed by the great emperors Julius and Augustus—we literally
followed their footsteps! History came alive and Rome was ours to
discover, as we stood under the awesome dome of the Pantheon
and threw a penny into the Trevi Fountain, ensuring we would all
come back to Rome one day.
Arriverderci Roma! Au revoir Paris!
Until next year….
On Friday February 19th, 2010, students in Signora Polin-De Luca’s Grade
11 and 12 Italian classes had the opportunity of experiencing Italian theatre at the Kaneff Centre at UTM and saw an
Italian comedy by Dario Fo. Dario’s works often deal with a variety of different twists and turns. His plays are always
amusing and highly entertaining. This was truly a wonderful opportunity for both the Grade 11 and Grade 12 Italian
students to see a play that they were studying come to life.
The students enjoyed the play presented by the “Maschere Duemondi” and immediately applied themselves to the task
of completing the assignment that accompanied this theatrical experience—making Dario Fo’s comedy come to life in
the Italian classroom in their own theatrical production. The result was an outstanding performance by all!
Bravo!
Students from all the ESL classes enjoyed a trip to Bronte
Park in March. A special thanks to our representative,
Carola Cuadra, from the Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood
center for arranging the trip. The cool temperatures
provided the ideal conditions for the maple sap to flow.
Students enjoyed their day at the park, they learned
about how maple syrup was made in the early days as
well as how it is done today—not much has changed.
We saw samples of the small bottles of the syrup, a
special Canadian treat that many of us bring as gifts
when we travel abroad.
You may or may not know that we had a senior trivia team
this year.
But far more importantly, our team TIED FOR SECOND in
this, our inaugural year in the league. They competed as
part of the Reach for the Top Association, straining their
brains against 17 other teams in our South Mississauga
division.
Pocock students are fortunate to have a variety of exciting
Despite their hard work, our players were ousted because
of an ill-conceived tie-breaker. Thus our brief but illustrious
run at the championship was cut short.
vocal, and engaging young minds! At the beginning of the
If you have the opportunity, please congratulate Joel
Upsdell, Pavel Stech, Robert Granata, Andrew Mazurek,
and Chris Trudeau on their fantastic effort.
Pocock’s enthusiastic Model UN Club participated in spirited
Sadly, the team was comprised completely of senior
students who are all off to bigger things at university next
year.
Nations Symposium. Congratulations to Chelsea O’Hara,
Their last hurrah will be to take on a team of teacher allstars sometime in May. Stay tuned for further updates.
On that note, there will be a call for grade 9, 10, 11
students to join our ranks next year, so be ready.
— Mr. Downey
and stimulating extra-curricular sports and clubs from which
to choose. For several years, the Model UN Club has been
included in this list; it has attracted some of Pocock’s most
second semester February 4-6 - several students from
debate at the University of Toronto’s Model United
Andrew Mazurek, Paola Poblete, and Joel Upsdell, who
each took on the role of an international delegate
responsible for confronting pressing global issues. We are
proud of the intelligent and creative manner in which you all
represented Pocock as well!
More recently, the outspoken, bright Model UN members
attended Chaminade 2010 at the North York Civic Centre on
March 25-26. Discussions over such pressing world issues
as The Problem of Terrorist Group- The Lord’s Resistance
Army in Northern Africa- and Sustainable Cities, were
enjoyed by the following Model UN members , who
represented the views of their assigned countries as
delegates: Joel Upsdell for Uganda also acted as Pocock’s
head delegate; Mike Kim for Belize; Madeline Dodds for
Bhutan; Vithijayini Maharupan for Liechtenstein; Kristina
Rozintseva for Bangladesh; Andrew Mazurek for Trinidad
and Tobago; Chelsea O'Hara for Monaco; Paola Poblete for
Egypt; and Claudia Sawon for Malta. Congratulations to all
for their decorum, wit , and endeavors to reach credible
resolutions!
A special thank you to Mr. Mascarin and Mr. Mezgec for the
time they took to drive Model UN students .We appreciate
your support!
Many of the members will be graduating from Pocock this
year, but they and Mrs.Popowich invite current young
members and new members to join our regular Thursday
Pocock Yearbook is looking for a Jr. Editor for next year starting in Semester One. If you have a creative flair, are interested
in desk-top publishing, and want to be a part
of putting the Yearbook together, then please
contact Mrs. Pogson, the yearbook advisor.
meetings in Room 325 to become part of the lively
discussions concerning international world issues, and build
valuable speaking and critical –thinking skills.
See you there!
Over the March Break, 21 members of the Varsity Girls Rugby
Team traveled to the Republic of Ireland. The Lady Pirates competed against two very strong clubs, provincial teams from the
Emerald Isle. The team had been training since September to
prepare for the tour and the countless hours of preparation were
necessary as the competition in Ireland was very strong. As
coaches, we hoped to provide our student athletes the
opportunity to compete in the sport they love in an international
setting, but our goal was also to expose them to the history and
culture of Ireland. Our first stop was the Irish capital of Dublin
and Greystones RFC was our first host. Our opponents
consisted of a select group of girls from Greystones RFC and
neighboring Wicklow RFC. Even though we came up short on
the scoreboard, the hosts were very impressed with our sound
technical play as well as our conditioning, considering we
stepped off a plane less than 24 hours before
competing.
While in Dublin, we toured the city for hours at a
time always using the “Spire” on O’Connell St. as
our home base and/or meeting place. We visited
Dublin’s two medieval Cathedrals, Christ Church and St. Patrick’s, which
for many years both held the status of Cathedral for the Dublin Diocese. Our tour of
Trinity College was educational and thought provoking thanks to our knowledgeable
and witty tour guide/graduate student. Trinity is the oldest University in Ireland founded
in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I. The highlight of the Trinity tour was definitely the Trinity
College Library and the Book of Kells. The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript
in Latin containing the four Gospels transcribed by four monks over their lifetimes from
the late 6th to early 9th century. It is a stunningly beautiful manuscript and Ireland’s
most precious medieval artifact. We were fortunate enough to be able to visit and tour
Dublin’s famous Croke Park – home to the Gaelic Athletic Association – the largest amateur
sporting association in the world. Croke Park seats 85,000 people and hosts the traditional Irish sports of Gaelic
Football and Hurling (which make hockey and lacrosse look tame by comparison). Our next stop was Limerick – St. Patrick’s Day.
On St. Patrick’s Day, our Lady Pirates faced the Under 19 provincial
women’s side from Munster. Munster RFC is a professional rugby club
which sports a developmental program for both girls and boys eventually
feeding into their pro team. Needless to say it was a tough physical
match. Munster prevailed but not after our ladies showcased the quality
of Canadian Women’s Rugby. Many club officials and spectators were
shocked to discover that we were not a representative provincial side
but merely a team
from one specific
high school. Despite
the loss, our ladies
were in good spirits
and the Irish complemented our girls
on their excellent
physical and technical play. Prior to
our match we had
the most exciting experience of the
tour. We were invited to be guests in the St. Patrick’s Day
Parade in Limerick. We knew in advance that we would be marching, so
we prepared by wearing red and white, sporting Canadian
paraphernalia as well as having pockets full of Canadian pins and other give-aways. What we weren’t prepared for was the exceptionally warm welcome we received and the size of the crowd. We
were part of 4,000 people marching in the parade and there was a crowd of over 80,000 people
lined along the parade route cheering us on. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience that
none of us will forget – AMAZING!
Our last stop of the tour
found us in the coastal
town of Galway. We
drove through the Irish
country side soaking in
the rolling hills, lush
fields
and
the
peat….ahh the peat.
Before reaching our
destination
we
stopped to witness
the famous Cliffs of
Moher.
The Cliffs
boast one of Ireland’s most spectacular views and the team spent a great
deal of time soaking it all in and taking hundreds of pictures. Rising
over 200 metres above the Atlantic
Ocean, this is one instance where
a picture cannot do it any justice
– the Cliffs of Moher truly are a
wonder of nature. Galway,
nicknamed “Ireland’s Cultural
Heart”, gave us a final opportunity
for some rest, relaxation and yes, more shopping.
Galway is home to the traditional Irish Claddagh ring and the
streets were littered with jewelry stores and tourist trying to purchase a
little piece of Ireland to take home to loved ones. Before heading back to Dublin
and them home to Canada, we attended Mass at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Galway to give thanks
for a wonderful experience in Ireland and pray for a safe trip home. We were awed by the beauty of the massive
Romanesque Cathedral and it was fitting that we attended Mass on the Feast of St. Joseph, Canada’s Patron Saint, on the
eve of our journey back home.
Congratulations to our Pirate Rugby Team for representing our school, city, province and country with pride and class.
Members of the Ireland Touring Squad were: Nadine Wyczolkowski, Alissa Liotti, Erika Labinowicz, Katherine Zurowski,
Alexis Boltsis, Christine Borszcz, Margaret Hranyczna, Kerry Morrison, Natasha Cantisano, Kristina De Los Reyes, Shannon
Babic, Dorothy Stano, Victoria Ammendolia, Erin Cronin, Laurel Jones, Kimberley DelaCruz, Michelle Zurowski, Anastasia
Mizina, Malissa Bujok, Lindsay Angus, Irena Elatrash. The Team is coached by Mr. Radic and Mr. Piemontese. The team
would also like to acknowledge and thank Ms. Finelli, Mr. Sikic, Mr. Anisko and Ms. Dollin for their support in organizing and
supervising the tour. Their patience, enthusiasm and professionalism made the tour that much more memorable and enjoyable for all of us.
A special thanks to all members of the Rugby program here at Pocock who were unable to make the trip. They have been
training alongside the touring squad since September and made sure they were well prepared for the tour. All members of
the Rugby team greatly contributed to the success of the 2010 Ireland Tour. The success of the tour is a reflection of the
commitment, dedication, sacrifice and teamwork displayed by each and every member of the rugby family at Pocock. Good
Luck on the upcoming season ladies and stay tuned for the next Pocock Rugby Tour in 2012.
Mr. Radic & Mr. Piemontese
This year, Philip Pocock students had the great
opportunity to attend Dufferin-Peel’s 6th annual Black
History Conference: “Reel to Reality”, on February 25th
at Cardinal Ambrozic Catholic Secondary School. A
fabulous time was had by all. It was a day to celebrate
Black Heritage both in Canada and internationally.
Trey Anthony, a former Dufferin-Peel graduate,
distinguished playwright and television producer of the
famous “Da Kink in my Hair,” spoke to our students
about the importance of Afro-Canadians and their
contribution to Canadian society, including her own in
theatre and television.
There was a stirring opening performance by students from St. Edmund Campion set to Michael Jackson’s smash hits
“They Don’t Care About Us” and “Man in the Mirror” followed by a multimedia presentation of prominent Black historical
figures of our time and their legacy.
The motivational lecture and discussion led
by Trey Anthony was the highlight of the
conference. Anthony spoke about her experiences as a black student, actor and young
woman who, at many times in her life, felt the
frustration of being confined to typical black
stereotypes. She also talked about the dogged
determination and grit she drew upon from
within to overcome the naysayers and achieve
her dreams.
“To hear Trey Anthony’s experiences truly moved me into thinking that my dreams ARE possible if I set my mind to it and
take action in achieving them!” (Celeste Borden – Philip Pocock Student B.H.C. Attendee)
These dreams were encouraged in no small part by the words of Anthony’s Jamaican grandmother who continually told
her, “If you want the life that most people want, you must be willing to do the work that most people won’t.”
In a fitting tribute, Anthony closed her talk with a YouTube video of her grandmother’s moving song “Aim High.” The song’s
message and lyrics, “without a dream there’s no success, make your dream a reality, stop doubting yourself, aim high and
don’t stop until you reach the top,” inspired the audience to think big and to pursue their dreams.
Following the keynote address, students enjoyed a scrumptious Caribbean lunch of jerk chicken and rice. In the afternoon
students took in a performance of the South African comedic play “Sophiatown.” The play looked at intercultural and
inter-ethnic relations while exploring the issue of how to respect one another’s differences in a culturally pluralistic society.
The day closed with a solemn prayer service encouraging students to continue their educational endeavours with courage
and passion to make their dreams a reality; all the while looking for their inspiration of the great examples of the achievers
of our time and the past.
Ms. Cicconi
Our school website is evolving. A lot of useful information that can be accessed by students and parents is being posted
on a regular basis. To mention a few:
 There are school news, parents’ corner, school team schedule tabs on the main page
 Summer job postings and community hours opportunities from local businesses are regularly posted under the guidance section
 Scholarship opportunities are posted regularly under the guidance section
 Different departments post useful information such as links to some useful websites, information pertaining to specific courses and
expectations, notes, sample tests, test solutions and more.
 Some departments post downloadable permission forms, log sheets ... – in case a form that was distributed in class was misplaced
or forgotten in the student’s locker, it can be downloaded and printed.
 Religious retreat schedules and themes are posted under the chaplaincy section
 And more ...
Find out what is happening at your school. Bookmark www.dpcdsb.org/POCOK and make it a part of your surfing activity. Get informed; be
involved; help us make our school stronger to improve student success.
Types of Co-op Placements
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hospital/doctor/dentist
auto repair/mechanics
construction/trades
small business
banking
retail sales/marketing
child care/elder care
animal care
teacher
beauty salon/spa and esthetics
law office
landscaping/horticulture
film/video/sound production
hospitality/hotel management
real estate
and many more…
The choices are endless . . .
Students enrolled in the Philip Pocock Cooperative Education program for 2nd semester, have all been placed
and are now being exposed to real work experiences.
The Coop employers participating in our program are
all dedicated professionals that work together with the
home and school to provide worthwhile work experiences. These placements are varied and offer worthwhile opportunities in many different areas.
We are also happy to welcome all the new employers to
the Cooperative Education program. These new partnerships include: Portside Automotive, Alex Auto
Motors, Pickle Barrel Restaurant, Update Unisex,
Remtech Automotive, Serendipity Hair Salon, Peel
Police, and Fine Details Automotive. In addition,
we welcome back all of the returning employers who
have continued to provide a high level of mentorship
and guidance in the workplace. These out of school
placements allow students to use updated equipment
and technology, as well as experience the work environment under the direct supervision of licensed professionals. This semester we have 10 students who are
registered for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program OYAP. These students will be eligible for College
subsidies and grants worth 80% of their tuition fees.
In addition to work placement experiences, our students
are being provided with career opportunities that can
benefit them both now and in the future. On February
23, 2010, a group of grade 10 students attended OYAP
OH YEAH! This workshop, held at the International Center, gave our students an opportunity to experience the
trades. Students assisted in framing a deck, building a
brick structure, styling hair and other trade related
tasks. In May our students will be attending Mission
Employable 2010, this is a conference for students who
are about to graduate from secondary school and will be
entering the workplace full-time. They will have the opportunity to network with employers, industry associations and community agencies, to learn about the range
of employment opportunities in various industry sectors.
Please feel free to call our Cooperative Education Department regarding these or any other career related
opportunities.
AUTO SHOW
It is hard to believe that we are half way through the second semester. At
the beginning of the semester, the grade 10 and 11 auto students along with
some students from the other technological classes went on an excursion
to the Auto Show at the Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. The students
had an opportunity to see new options and technologies on new model vehicles. There were also many classic vehicles, mainly Shelby Fords, that were
very attractive to our car race enthusiast students. Manufacturers of shop
equipment were on site displaying their products. This was particularly
interesting to our students who are looking at a career in auto-mechanics,
especially since they had the opportunity of seeing the new tools and equipment that they would eventually use in their trade. Overall, it was a funfilled educational excursion that impacted our students positively; this was
through the discussions that ensued following the excursion.
All in all it was a successful trip and the students’ conduct was superb
throughout the trip – the students displayed good manners in the Centre,
they stayed together in small groups, and were punctual to return to the
designated meeting area.
BUZZ IN THE AUTO CLASS
Well, it seems the momentum of enthusiasm in the auto class is building. It
is not unusual to have to repetitively ask students to wrap-up what they are
doing and go to their next classe. They are having a fun as they are learn
and often lose track of time during the period. Some of them stay during
their lunch time to finish their work.
The grade 10 students have
spent the last few weeks identifying vehicle parts and understanding their purposes. Currently they are doing some basic
services including oil changes on
staff vehicles or vehicles that
belong to their parents. It is inspiring to see the pride they feel
after doing an oil change or tire
change on their mom’s or dad’s
car. Soon they will start disassembling
and reassembling working small engines
– as the weather is improving, they will
be seen outside running their engines.
The grade 11 students have been working on brake systems in a much more
detailed manner. They have also been
learning some basic welding skills as it is
a skill widely utilized by auto-mechanics.
Thanks to some staff and community
members who donated their old
vehicles, the students have some
cars to practice on. They will soon
be disassembling and reassembling automotive engines.
Please donate your old vehicles –
If your car is dead and hopeless, if
it is time to scrap it and get a new
one; please donate it to the auto
program – it will stay alive for
your sons’/daughters’ to practice
and learn on. If you would like to
donate your old car to the school,
please contact Mr. Lijiam in room 101 or 905-602-6172 ext. 69101.
Ms. McKay’s Gr. 9, 10, and 11 Visual Art students enjoyed a visit to the King Tut and The
Great Pharaohs' Exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario. They also viewed works of Modern Art.
The Gr. 9/10 class has been studying basic drawing skills such as
symmetry, perspective and shading.
They learned about the printmaking process and created dynamic
prints as well as painting with water colour, blending of organic
shapes behind organic line designs in black pen.
The Gr. 11 class is currently sculpting clay reliefs of faces which
combine a natural anatomical side with a contrasting surreal image to create a sense of conflict.
Original Artwork by:
Christian Rayos
The talented students of Mrs. Seaman’s Art classes continue to amaze others and themselves with their beautiful
images. The philosophy behind Mrs. Seaman’s teaching is
that each student has a unique way of seeing and expressing the world around them. The process of creating art is
the emphasis not always on the finished product: students
learn from their ‘mistakes’ through problem-solving and
hard work. It is in this way that their talents shine through
and their art evolves.
Original Artwork by:
Samantha Sebastian
Original Artwork
by: Angie Kape
During this Easter season, the students at different grade
levels designed a beautiful cross, the symbol of our Christianity. Students are taught to recognize that although their
talents come from God, it is their responsibility to develop
them.
Original 
Artiwork
by:
Andres
Ramirez
Original Artwork by:
Rodeza Puno
Original Artwork by: Maryan Khop’yak
 Original Artwork by:
Original Artwork by:
Melody Chang
Elizabeth Cirillo
Original Artwork by:
Christopher Luxto
Newsletter Coordinator & Layout Person: E. Polin-De Luca
Editors: S. Popowich
E. Polin-De Luca