Among the deeper learning challenges for Pocock parents and educators in 2015 is coming to
terms with the reality that adolescents and the academic world have changed beyond recogni-
ition. Students born in the year 2000 or beyond arrive at schools with a different set of
experiences and expectations from their learning. The “sage on the stage” model of teacher
pedagogy has been supplanted by the “guide on the side” for most learners today. Science teacher Tyler Dewitt elaborates in a TED talk that can be found on the following website: http:// www.ted.com/talks/tyler_dewitt_hey_science_teachers_make_it_ fun.
The digital learning environment has made schools respond to the instantaneous flow of information just as the Internet has democratized and flat lined organizations amongst learners. Expensive textbooks have in many respects become redundant to newer learning tools that allow us to watch YouTube videos that explain the same concept or lesson. Educators now talk about Blended and eLearning to make this distinction.
Students are all educated in the computer, smart phone, tablet and Internet era and they don’t comprehend why we aren’t adopting these common tools. The Internet and Wi-Fi has now put the student at the center of the learning paradigm, not the teacher anymore. Advances in animation and gaming have made the visual learning curve one of the most distinctive areas of student interest. Schools that aren't engaging these tools are doing a disservice to the long term learning goals of students.
In the last newsletter, we spoke about some of the innovations that will occur at Pocock as a result of the Board’s investment in new
Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School
4555 Tomken Road, Mississauga, Ontario, L4W 1J9
Telephone……...905-602-6172
Attendance Extension: # 69165 http://w3.dpcdsb.org/POCOK
Tim Lariviere, Superintendent 905-890-1221
Mario Pascucci, Chair of the Board, Trustee Wards 1 & 3
mario.pascucci@dpcdsb.org
Anna Abbruscato, Trustee Ward 4
www.pascucci.ca
Tel: 905-302-3096
Fax: 905-890-0888
anna.abbruscato@dpcdsb.
org 905 -890-0708 x24239 platforms and tools for learning. We have initiated our pilot project for Wi-Fi because it will allow many more students to connect more quickly to their learning resources. The capacity to demonstrate their knowledge with a variety of tools is a major advantage for digitally inclined students.
The Ministry has invited Pocock to do their major EQAO performance tasks online in the fall term and this will be an advantage for many students as they won’t be restricted to the April test.
(continued on page 2)
416-459-0126
Principal Paul Schmidt
Vice Principals Giacinto Malta A—K
Maria Terra L—Z
School Council Chair Sonia Olmedo

Spring is always a busy time in Chaplaincy at Pocock. The
weather warms up and we get to enjoy God’s beautiful
creation by going on outdoor retreats, such as our annu-
al horseback riding retreat and the March for Life in
Ottawa.
Next year’s Link leaders went on their
‘May Day’ retreat on May 25 in order to prepare for their roles as student mentors for grade nine students.
A group of almost 50 students from both
Philip Pocock and John Cabot Catholic
Secondary School joined thousands of others in a peaceful protest march in
Ottawa. The annual March for Life, held this year on May 14, promotes the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.
On May 7, 24 students participated in the ‘Catholic Education Week’ retreat at Teen Ranch. After spending some time discussing the importance of Catholic education, we had fun touring the ranch and, of course, riding some horses.
(PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE -continued from front page)
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board strives to create a safe, caring, healthy and inclusive environment in all of its schools, including Philip
Pocock Secondary School.
In order to maintain a safe and secure learning and working environment for students, staff and community members, it is necessary to periodically undertake construction and renovation work at our schools. Our schools main kitchen will undergo work to install a new stove. Also as part of this project, the kitchen fire suppression system will be replaced. The project is anticipated to be conducted during July and August 2015. Should any work continue into September, work will be undertaken after regular school hours.
We do not anticipate any significant impact on regular school operations.
With the addition of a new Mac lab in Rm. 210 with our new 30 Tablet Apple cart our capacity to meet the Ministry’s direction will be enhanced.
The saving grace for all of our key programs is that they all require unique and different learning practices. Music, language or autistic learning is very different from other more traditional modes of learning.
Bringing all of our learners around to comfortably utilize the digital mode will continue to be the project for Pocock for the forseeable future.
It is the policy of the Board that during the project period, Board staff will ensure that all staff and contractors adhere to provincial regulations including Ministry of Labour Health and Safety regulations, as well as the Board’s
General Administrative Procedures and Health and Safety Manual.
It is my practice to keep students, parents, guardians and staff
informed of activities that relate to or impact on our school.
If you have any questions regarding the project, please do
not hesitate to contact me.
Paul Schmidt,
School Principal
We will be saying our farewells to five more teachers from Pocock this year.
Messrs. Bilchak and Janozeski from Social
Science, Mr. Kontewicz from Mathematics,
Ms. Tan from English, and our Acting Dept.
Head of Science Bob Maddock. As these lifetime Pirates say goodbye we wish them a well earned restful break.
Let me wish all of our students and families a restful summer break, and while I will be in the Maritimes over the summer months, you are welcome to follow my thoughts on education and world affairs on
Twitter @PaulSch0428406.

This year’s newly formed
Ω M Σ G Δ club is an amalgamation of three previous clubs:
Social Justice, Chaplaincy, and EcoTeam. The club’s slogan - “Think Empower
Change” - truly exemplifies the focus of encouraging students to get involved, become leaders, and initiate goals to make a positive change in our local community and around the world.
Ω M Σ G Δ has taken on several initiatives this year from providing warm clothing and food for the homeless, water awareness, tree planting, random acts of kindness,
Earth hour and week, Vow of
Silence and March for Life to name a few.
With over 60 student members, Ω M Σ G Δ continues to inspire the Pocock community to be proactive, contributing members of society.
Vow of Silence
OMEGA club members participated in Free the Children's 24 hour Vow of Silence on April 16th, along with over 100,000 student leaders from 50 different countries. This was an act of solidarity with the millions of children in the world who are silenced by poverty, slavery, child labour, exploitation, and war. Through silence, our members got the whole school talking about children's rights and managed to raise $565.00 in pledges to support our Free the Children adopted village in Sierra Leone. This money goes directly to providing clean water and access to education for the children in a region devastated by the Ebola virus.
Peel Children’s Water Festival
On May 21st, 120 students attended the Peel Children’s Water
Festival, double the amount of students that attended last year!
Students did an amazing job teaching hundreds of elementary students about the environmental challenges facing one of our world’s natural resources: water. The Region of Peel was thoroughly impressed with our students’ leadership abilities, dedication, and enthusiasm. We are “a school with spirit”!
Tree Planting
On May 27 th of this year, 35
Pocock students attended this year’s Tree Planting excursion. Working directly with the Credit Valley Conservation, students were able to plant over 100 trees in a few short hours. True stewards of this wonderful planet!
Great Gulp
This year during Canada
Water Week, OMEGA promoted and encouraged the entire school
Outdoor Classroom
Pocock’s outdoor classroom remains a to participate in the Great Gulp challenge, which is an initiative of the Region of Peel. OMEGA was able to motivate our school to decrease the use of plastic water bottles, and increase the use of reusable bottles. Through this event, OMEGA was able to bring awareness to the dangers that using plastic water bottles has on our environment as well as promote an appreciation for tap water in our region. effort and dedication! space that OMEGA is committed to improve and maintain. Staff and students involved with OMEGA, worked hard this spring to weed, mulch, plant and water the gardens in the outdoor classroom so that it can continue to be a space that classes can enjoy. Thank you OMEGA for your time,

students were exposed to various local flora and fauna, were introduced to invasive species, and the importance of ecosustainability. The signs of early spring were evident as students saw the first blossoms of spring and heard the birds chirping!
It has been another whirlwind semester for the Social Sciences! The department has been filled with many student teachers and volunteers, as mentor teachers guided and helped them gain experience and prepare for a career in teaching.
Several trips and guest lectures were organized throughout second semester to enhance students’ learning and understanding of the curriculum.
The University of Toronto – Mississauga Campus , welcomed our Grade 12 Human Growth Through the Lifespan students as they had the unique opportunity to experience a first year lecture in psychology. This was definitely an eye-opening experience for our students and what awaits them next year as they prepare to embark on a new journey in their academic lives.
Meanwhile, Grade 11 Ancient History and Grade 12 World
History students took a step back in time while visiting the
Royal Ontario Museum that allowed the curriculum to come alive as they toured various time periods in history.
Last but not least, Grade 12 Equity and Social Justice students experienced a variety of field trips to enhance their knowledge of both local and global issues. Students attended the Holocaust Centre where they participated in a genocide workshop, and were privileged to speak to a holocaust survivor. St. Joan of Arc welcomed our students to the Justice
Symposium where a variety of workshops were offered. Finally, through York University, students attended the Change
Your World Conference , which focused on environmental studies and issues.
Meanwhile, Grade 11 Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology students had the opportunity to partake in a wellness retreat, where they connected spirituality with wellbeing and how to better cope with teenage stress.
The Social Sciences Department would also like to thank our chaplain, Mr. Smalridge, for taking the time out of his busy schedule to come and speak to students in several of our subject areas. Various debates and discussions centred around Creationism and Darwinian theory, euthanasia, capital punishment, and religious freedoms.
Additionally, during the psychology portion of the course, students visited C.A.M.H. (The Centre of Addiction and Mental Health) . Students were given the opportunity to tour the grounds, and understand the history and evolution of the institution. Then, students participated in an interactive presentation with doctors, educators and patients to learn
We wish everyone a happy, safe and healthy summer!
See you in September! about and discuss mental health and its impact on the CanadiPocock is very fortunate to have a multitude of talented an population. Students walked away more informed, educatinspiring chefs , both culinary and baking. Both these exed and better equipped to combat the stigma that surrounds mental health. have excelled in their particular fields and both competed in
Our senior law students spent the day at the Supreme Court of Ontario seeing our legal system in action as they were exlast years 'SKILLS' competition and finished a grand third in their respective fields. This year's competition was just as exciting with Eric finishposed to a variety of cases and the process of jury selection. ing third in the culinary field and Eftihia finishing
Retired Peel Region Forensics Detective and current Sheriforth in the baking area. dan College Police Foundations teacher, Geoffrey Hancock, Both students will have lectured to our law students on various occasions with specifa prosperous and enjoyaic lectures on serial killers, as well as forensics.
On a sunny, but chilly day in early spring, Grade 9 Canadian
Geography students were able to experience both nature and technology during their trip to the Riverwood Conservancy .
Students learned how to use GPS units through various exercises and were introduced to geo-caching. The day culminated with a beautiful nature walk through the forest where ble time in their fields.
They are a proud
COMPLIMENT in the hospitality FAMILY.
Go Pirates Go!!
HOSPITALITY !!!!!!
L to R: Baking- 2014 Skills 3rd place winner: Eftihia Haralabidou,
Mr. Scerni, Culinary - 2014 & 2015 3rd Place winner: Eric Olmedo

The results for the University of Waterloo Mathematics
Contests have arrived. For each grade level, a medal is awarded to the top scoring student who attains at least a minimum mark set by the University of Waterloo.
Students ranking in the top 25% of all contestants are presented with a Certificate of Distinction. Congratulations to the following students on their achievements:
 Grade 9 Pascal Contest
Medal Award
Bassa Lee
Certificate of Distinction
Bassa Lee,
Alvin Ang,
Lucas Fernandes,
Agustina Gallegos, and
Daisy Ngo
 Grade 9 Fryer Contest
Medal Award
Janko Strizak
 Grade 10 Cayley Contest
Medal Award
Lana Toameh
Certificate of Distinction
Lana Toameh, and
Agnieszka Divecha
 Grade 11 Fermat Contest
Medal Award and Certificate of Distinction
Martin Szczepanowski
 Grade 12 Euclid Contest
Medal Award
Abhishek Sai Moturu
The Philip Pocock Cooperative Education Department would like to thank all our employers for all their efforts with our 2 nd
semester Coop students. Under their guidance and mentorship, students gained valuable skills and insights into the world of work.
On Monday, May 25, 2015, we celebrated our Spring
Philip Pocock Career Fair. This was an opportunity for our students to present their Coop experience in a display format. Employers were also invited to attend and visit with their student in our school setting.
The Cooperative Education Department would like to congratulate all the coop students for their efforts and we wish them success in all their academic and workplace pursuits.

Mandala (Sanskrit:
मण्डल ' circle') is a spiritual and ritual symbol in Hinduism and Buddhism, representing the Universe. The basic form of most mandalas is a square with four gates containing a circle with a center point.
The term is of Sanskrit origin. It appears in the Rig Veda as the name of the sections of the work, but is also used in other religions and philosophies, particularly Buddhism.
In various spiritual traditions, mandalas may be employed for focusing attention of practitioners and adepts, as a spiritual guidance tool, for establishing a sacred space, and as an aid to meditation and trance induction. It is a geometric pattern that represents the cosmos metaphysically or symbolically; a microcosm of the universe.
During Mme. Ferrari ‘s
“Grandes Religions” classes, students studied the Buddhist religion and learned about the sacredness, meaning and importance of
“mandalas.” Each student then went out and found their own personal rock and created their own unique mandala. It was a class of meditative thought and creativity!
This year the Pocock Moderns Department was happy to announce it's first-ever
"Moderns Cultural Competition." Students were invited to showcase their talents within the French or Italian cultures, by submitting an artistic work (ie. painting, picture collage, reinterpretation of a famous song or film scene, etc.) that represented either of the two.
It is with great pleasure that the Moderns Department declared Victoria Levitski , a grade 12 student in Mme. Polin-De Luca’s Extended French class, the winner of this year's competition. She was awarded a $25 gift card, sponsored by Heartland Staples
Depot. Victoria submitted a rendition of a famous painting by Toulouse Lautrec entitled, “The Clowness: Cha-U-Kao.” The painting is based on an iconic figure from the period of “La Belle Époque” who was a dancer, clown and contortionist. Victoria’s interpretation of the work demonstrates a unique talent and skillful eye, especially regarding her use of vivid and bold colours. Thank you to all those who submitted their works and a special thank you to Mme. D. Di Croce for spear-heading this initiative.
We look forward to continuing the celebration of French and Italian cultures!

On Saturday, May 9, 2015 Pocock participated in the annual
Concours d’art oratoire (French Public Speaking Competition) at the Provincial level. The first place winners at the Board level continued on to complete at the Provincial level of the competition that was held at Glendon College and sponsored by the
Canadian Parents for French.
There were over 230 competitors, who earned top place in their own categories, from across the province. The competition was fierce and choosing the winners, this year in particular, was a difficult task for the judges. Congratulations go to Olena Pankiw and Stéphani Ponniah who performed exceptionally well and in
Stéphani Ponniah, Mme. E. Iodice, and Mme. L. Ferrari
Immersion Category.
Thanks go out to Mme. L. Ferrari, Mme. E. Iodice, Mme. E. Polin-De Luca, and Mlle. V. Vittori, who invested their time and energy to prepare and coach these students to ensure their success. All coaches are extremely proud of your effort and hard work. Féliciations!
On Tuesday , May 12, 2015, students in Mme. Iodice’s, and Mme
Polin-De Luca’s senior French classes had the distinct pleasure of attending the presentation of Molière’s Le malade imaginaire .
The play was presented by the Théâtre Français de Toronto at
Berkley Theatre. Students were given an overview of the time period, the characters, and the finer points of the plot and recurring themes by M. Robert Godin, who is the student/school liaison as well as one of the more seasoned actors in the company. His prelude helped greatly in the completion of their assignment.
Quelle expérience merveilleuse!
On June 5th , 2015, the grade 11 and 12 French students in the Core and Extended programs were invited to participate in the Glendon/
York University on-line survey. Each student participating in this survey received a small token from Glendon and had their name entered into a draw to win a grand prize – a personal tablet! There were two runners up, Judy Snagg and Sofia Vieira, both of whom won a Glendon College stainless steel water bottle and the grand prize winner was Habiba Elayouty! Congratulations to all of our winners and a big thank-you to all of the students who took the time to participate in the survey!

Philip Pocock has done it again! This year, the Ontario
Association of Teachers of Italian held their annual provincial language contest later than usual as a result of the events at
York University. Those events did not impede our students from performing exceptionally well in the CONCORSO. This year we had 5 students enter and ALL 5 won!
We would like to congratulate the following students for putting forth their best efforts and bringing home 1 st
and 2 nd place wins in their respective categories that this year included Poetry & Prose and Open Artistic. In the Open Artistic Category students also had to write a descriptor piece as to why they had chosen to do what they did and how they were inspired by the Italian language and culture.
L’Italia, paese da meravigliare!
L'Italia è un paese ideale, di cui Roma è la sua capitale.
A Roma, c'è una grande basilica, sede di una città molto cattolica.
Ha combattuto attraverso la storia, per ottenere tutta la sua gloria.
Al nord, si può trovare, una città unica da adorare.
Con le sue gondole e canali pieni di colore,
Venezia rimane città d'amore.
La Serenissima ricorda il potere di un gioiello importante da vedere.
Poi abbiamo un’altra città, fonte d’ispirazione, piena di vita.
A Firenze, c'è la storia,
Gli eventi incisi nella memoria.
Capoluogo del rinascimento, padrone, dell’artista, scrittore, ed architetto.
Adesso la città conosciuta per la moda, nella Lombardia, c'è Milano che si loda.
Dal Duomo a La Scala, persone da tutto il mondo,
Conscono Milano sul mappomondo.
Dopo una città metropolitana, che ha un’atmosfera non affatto americana.
C'è poi Napoli, il capoluogo della Campania, dove Pulcinella, la tarantella, e la pizza napoletana sono in continua smania.
Tanti posti da visitare, tante città da ammirare, la scelta mi fa stupefare, ma un giorno voglio viaggiare, e vedere questo paese da meravigliare.
N. Kluszczynski
Second Place medals went to Lauren Di Nola in the Gr. 11 Open
Artistic Category and Abhishek Sai Moturu in the Gr. 12 Poetry &
Prose Category for his piece entitled Una passione incomparabile.
First Place medals went to Maja Kiroska in the Gr. 11 Open Artistic
Category, Nicole Kluzsczynski in the Gr. 11 Poetry & Prose Category for her poem entitled L’Italia, paese da meravigliare and Olena
Pankiw in the Gr. 12 Open Artistic Category.
Pocock continues to be a force to be ‘reckoned’ with in the study of the Italian language and in the annual OATI Italian Competition.
Pocock stands firm as one of the TOP ranking schools in Ontario for Italian.
Congratulations to all students in the Italian programme and Signora
Polin-De Luca for continuing to encourage and inspire our students to excellence. Job well done and alla prossima!

pasta courses (lasagna, fettucine alfredo and penne in red sauces); chicken cutlets, and meatballs, accompanied by several ‘contorni’; potatoes, peppers, eggplants, and salad.
The meal ended with several desserts, including ‘cannoli’ and ‘tiramisù’ to name a few. Thank you to everyone, all the ‘mamme’, ‘papà’ and ‘nonne’ for ensuring that our
’Banchetto’ was such a great success.
The Grade 10 Italian class celebrated the culmination of this semester’s work with a typical Italian ‘Banchetto.’ Students enjoyed Italian cuisine while listening to Italian music and reflecting on the language, the culture and the future.
We were delighted to see several staff members grace our banquet; Mme. Selimovic, Mme. Iodice, Mme. Ferrari,
Mr. Tavares, Mlle. Vittori, Ms. Popowich, and Ms. Terra, just to name a few. Of course, some of our teachers had the banquet “brought to them.” Students in Signora Polin-
De Luca’s Italian class enjoyed a ‘typical’ Italian Banquet with a 5 course meal that consisted of the following: antipasto (prosciutto, bocconcini, pizza, olives, cheese, etc.);

Don’t miss out on the experience of a lifetime!
Switzerland, France, and Italy are Pocock’s destinations for next year’s EuroTrip. Next year, we will start in Lugano, Switzerland, travel into the French
Riviera and Monaco, and then Pisa, Florence, Rome, and the Amalfi Coast will bring our journey to an end.
The ESL students have had another great semester!
Aside from completing the demands of a heavy curriculum, the students participated in workshops offered by the Dixie Bloor Neighbourhood Centre and the NYCE program. Topics covered were: bullying, self-esteem, resume writing, the Canadian government, workplace safety and summer activities.
Thank you to Ms. Cuadra for all of her hard work. It is very much appreciated. Congratulations to those students who are graduating from the ESL program.
Pocock runs one of the best Europe Trips out there!
Don’t miss out on what is truly the experience of a lifetime . There are still some places left on the roster.
 Sign up at www.explorica.ca
.
 The Tour Centre ID is Polin-DeLuca-2016 .
 Follow the prompts and join the ‘tour’.
THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD http://dukeofed.org
Registration: http:dukeofed.org/on/registraion
The Award is a non-competitive program in which participants set and achieve personal goals for community service, skills, fitness, and adventure. It is a great way to explore new interests and try new challenges you might not have done otherwise, and even stretch your 'comfort zone'. The Award is open to all young Canadians age 14—24 years old, and has 3 levels:

Bronze (for ages 14 yrs and up)


Silver (for ages 15 yrs and up)
Gold (for ages 16 yrs and up)
Participants can expect to spend at least 6 months completing the
Bronze level, and a year or more on Silver or Gold, depending on whether the participant registers as a direct entry or continues from one level to the next. You must complete your Award before your 25th birthday. (taken from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award).
Start the award today and then see Ms. Coulson in September.
Our ELLs Get Published
In an effort to support language instruction in school and emphasize student writing, all secondary school English
Language Learners were invited to participate in the Writers’ Showcase
2015. This collaborative effort was an opportunity to highlight the valuable work of ELLs and support ongoing language instruction in the area of writing and other forms of communication.
Congratulations to Fares Hammal, Hannah Nikita Tupaz, Justine Punzalan, Raymond Le, and Shafiq Shahin who participated in the Writers’
Showcase 2015 and whose work was subsequently published.

Grade 12 Instrumental Music Recital
As the end of another school year approaches, great things continue to take place in the music department. Here are a few highlights from second semester...

VOCAL PERFORMANCES AT LENTEN MASSES

ARTS & CULTURE SHSM STUDENTS VISIT ROSE THEATRE TO
WATCH “THE BLACK VIOLIN"

PERFORMING ARTS TRIP TO NEW YORK CITY

SPRING CONCERTS FOR THE POCOCK COMMUNITY

SCHOOL MUSICAL PRODUCTION OF “FROZEN”

BAND AND VOCAL STUDENTS PERFORM AT WONDERLAND
MUSIC FESTIVAL WITH VERY COMPLIMENTARY FEEDBACK

GRADE 12 INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC FARWELL RECITAL “ For
The Last Time In Forever ”

VOCAL ENSEMBLE PERFORMS AT END OF YEAR LITURGIES AND
GRADUATION MASS

BAND ENSEMBLE PERFOMS AT COMMENCEMENT
Performing Arts Trip To New York City
On Thursday June 4th , our grade 12 instrumental music class, consisting of 60 musicians, performed a 3 hour recital for family and friends. The program repertoire was selected by the student performers and each piece was introduced to the audience with a personal reflection of the significance of the song to the group. This brought up many memories of the past that this group of students has shared together.
Mrs. Kohut wishes her graduating musicians the best of luck in their future studies and when any of you have the desire to play your instrument, just come back to Pocock for a visit!
Commencement
Our final instrumental performance for this school year was Philip
Pocock’s Commencement Ceremony. We thank all of the dedicated junior and senior band members who took part in this very special occasion. Mrs. Kohut realizes that you were already in summer holiday mode and it took a lot of energy to put on that uniform one more time for the year, but you still came through and that’s what makes you such a special group!
That concludes this year’s music events. On behalf of the music department, we wish all students a happy and restful summer! Remember, “Without Music, Life Would Be Flat!”
L. Kohut—Music Teacher
At the end of April, 74 music, dance and drama students hit the pavement of New York City and experienced more than just the normal
“New York City Minute!” Some of our activities included: Statue Of
Liberty, Rockefeller Center, A City Tour, Central Park, Little Italy, Canal Street, Time Square, Mama Mia, Les Miserables and the Empire
State Building. Students also participated in a Broadway Workshop where they worked with active musicians and actors from the shows the students went to see.
Thank you very much to all who participated! It was truly a lifetime experience!

A big thank you goes out to the cast and crew of Frozen! A particular thanks to the grade 12 Hair and Aesthetics class who did fantastic work on the hair and make-up for the play. Their efforts and hard work really made the done to all! — Mrs. Mazzotta
Frozen characters come to life. Well

Congratulations to Philip Pocock’s competitive cheer team for a fantastic season!
Despite several injuries and set backs throughout the year, the team stayed focused, dedicated, and represented Philip
Pocock with pride, enthusiasm and peppiness.
The team participated in several Cheer Evolution and Ontario Cheerleading Federation competitions, even travelling to
Kingston, ON, to compete!
This year the competition was fierce, and the team had several second and third places finishes, often missing first place by less than a point.
Several team members that have been with us since the beginning are graduating this year. Their dedication and hard work throughout the years will be missed. We wish them the best of luck as they embark on a new adventure in their lives.
Special thanks to Ivana Dimperio, our volunteer coach, for creating an amazing routine, and to Ms. Corsetti and Ms.
Gotal for their dedicated coaching. Great work ladies! You all definitely know what it means to have POCOCK PRIDE!
We wish the entire team a happy, safe and well-deserved restful summer! Cheer tryouts will happen in the fall, so remember to spend some time stretching and training!
I
A
E
!
What an incredible playoff run the Senior Boys Basketball team had this year!! With 4 starters in Grade 11, your Pocock Pirates Senior
Boys fought their way up to the ROPSSAA Tier 2 Semi-Finals. They battled against an athletic Judith Nyman team and number two ranked Mayfield along the way. Their season ended in defeat against a strong Erindale team in what turned out to be the most exciting game of the season. It was a 2 point loss that came in the last few seconds of the game, but despite the heartbreak, the players showed tremendous character in defeat. It was an incredible season - characterized by the team's determination and hard work.
Thank you to the graduating seniors Harold Hoang, Taylor Cummings and Matt Biskys.
Girls with muscles are finally trending! Congratulations to all the girls that completed Finelli's Fitness this year. All the ripped hands, sore muscles, sweat soaked clothes, and tears of pain and joy were worth it. You have proven to yourself that YOU CAN DO IT! It was never about getting skinny, it was always about getting strong and loving your body. Don't make this a
Thank you to those who came to watch the games and showed us that Pocock is truly a school with spirit.
it a lifestyle.

Congratulations to the winners of the Annual Pocock 3 on 3 Basketball
This semester students in Ms. Finelli's PPL 30 class might have missed out on the camping trip but they definitely found some other cool activities to make the course a success. From curling, to mountain biking, to bocce on the track this
Tournament. The victory went to
“Kelly’s Team” with Abdi Abbas, JR
Espiritu, Nick Subramaniam, and Kelly faced with.
Everyone came
Owie. They beat the undefeated
“H Block Squad” in the finals. The all different grades competing to be
Pocock’s streetball champions.
For the second consecutive year, Pocock competed in the Cardinal Games – a fitness competition that incorporates CrossFit style movements. Our team of 3 girls and 3 boys competed in various timed events that included pushups, situps, pull-ups, burpees as well as a 3km row and a medicine ball sprint relay.
The Pirates showed a lot of heart and stayed true to the movements they were

“ I will think of you every time I need to be reminded that there is beauty and goodness in the world.”
For anyone else, this would be hyperbole, but not for Virginia Tan. Her impact on the staff and students of Philip Pocock since 1989 is difficult to quantify, but this
Arthur Golden quotation certainly comes close.
In her time here, Virginia has been a very active part of the Pocock community. She has been part of both the graduation committee and chaplaincy, and helped provide music for school plays and masses. She also attends as many staff and student functions as she can. In fact, there is no one with more Pocock spirit than Ms. Tan.
Her true passion, however, was always most evident in her English classroom, teaching her students. She loves the grade 12 university preparation course, and will always reserve a special place in her heart for King Lear (the play, not the king). She says that she could never recall all of the wonderful and unique experiences that have taken place in her classroom, but her favourite memories have to do with blouse spiders, forgettable students, and wheeled lecterns.
You need to visit her in person if you want more details.
She fondly explains that one of her favourite parts of the job is always the return visits from former students. The fact that she will always make time to sit and meet and enjoy their stories is perfect proof of the genuine care and affection she has for the close to
4000 students who have had the privilege of being in her class throughout her teaching career.
Her advice to young teachers: “Try to look for the positive in every situation, and remember that your students are always watching and looking up to you – be a role model for them.”
She also has a final message to her fellow Pocock staff members:
“26 years has not seemed long at all because my colleagues have been such a pleasure to work with.”
We feel the same way, Ms. Tan. God bless you on your journey, which we hope brings you back to us every once in a while.
TWO SOCIAL SCIENCE PIRATES ARE SAILING INTO THE SUNSET
Saying goodbye is never easy, and when it is to two veterans of a department, it becomes even more difficult. But alas, the time has come to bid adieu to two integral members of the Social Sciences
Department – Mr. Bilchak and Mr.
Janozeski.
With approximately 60 years of joint teaching experience between them, Philip Pocock has been lucky to have had these men their entire teaching careers! Starting only weeks apart at the start of their careers, it seems only fitting that they are retiring together.
Mr. Bilchak and Mr. Janozeski have graced all three of Pocock’s schools….the original campus (currently John Cabot), Vincent Massey (the temporary Etobicoke campus), and our current home.
They have set the standards for several of our courses…geography, history, law and civics to name a few, and have educated generations of students.
Their presence in the department and around the school will be sorely missed. No one will ever replace “Mr. J’s” illustrious fashion flair with his variety of colourful ties, booming voice in the hallways, and his friendly smile as he greets students entering room
210. Mr. Bilchak’s meticulous lunch time routine and his ability to laugh at his own jokes has been a long time department favourite, and I’m sure students will miss his highly anticipated “Rock Jeopardy.”
We wish both of them a happy and healthy retirement, as they both embark on a new chapter of their lives. Please don’t be strangers, as Pocock will always welcome you with open arms.
We bid farewell to Mr. Waldemar Kontewicz, a long-time member of the Mathematics Department at Philip
Pocock Catholic Secondary School. Little did we know that Mr. Kontewicz was also a published poet, a book translator, an enthusiastic traveler, an art collector and nature lover. He is also a polyglot and speaks several languages. A true renaissance man! Mr. Kontewicz loves life and his family and can always be found where festivities abound. His soft spoken and gentle demeanor, combined with a truly patient nature, made him an approachable and well respected teacher amongst students. Passion + knowledge = Mr. Kontewicz’s style of teaching. With his peers he was always ready to help his colleagues, be it with curriculum or just to lend an ear. He was always easy to approach in a collegial and collaborative manner. Mr. Kontewicz’s positive spirit and smiling face will be missed. We are grateful for his many years of service to our school community and send best wishes and prayers for a happy retirement.

The month of June is synonymous with warm weather, and the anticipation of summer. At Philip Pocock, it also means frequent visits by alumni returning from college or university. One of their most frequent destinations upon returning to Philip Pocock is the classroom of Mr. Maddock. The reason is simple: Mr. Maddock has always been a teacher who both encourages and emboldens.
From piloting airplanes to sampling vegetation in the far reaches of the province, Mr. Maddock has brought with him a unique set of experiences to the classroom that he was always willing to share.
This, combined with his ability to really make students think about science and the world around them, is part and parcel to why Mr. Maddock has been so inspirational to many.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Maddock has also made a lasting impression outside of the classroom.
Coaching several sports, Mr. Maddock not only got the best out of his athletes, but he also taught them proper sportsmanship and teamwork. This month, Mr. Maddock was the recipient of the 2015 Pirate
Award for his two decade long coaching career at Philip Pocock.
Retiring at the end of the school year, Mr. Maddock has served the Philip Pocock school community since 1993. For over twenty-two years, Mr.
Maddock has graced our school with his always positive outlook and gentle demeanour. He is certainly going to be missed by both staff and students. We wish Mr. Maddock the best as he enters this new and exciting stage of his life.
As second semester draws nearer to a close, there are a few reminders for our students that are noteworthy. Summer school and elearning courses will begin from June 29 – July 27 th
. There is a mandatory orientation session for all elearning courses on either June 23 rd
or June 24 th
at 7:00 pm (St Francis Xavier or St. Edmund Campion) Late walk-in registration for summer school courses is on June 29 th
10:30 am – 3:00 pm at summer school locations. For more information, please visit www.dpcdsb.org
.
By now our graduating senior students have already confirmed post-secondary offers at either www.ontariocolleges.ca
(deadline
May 1 st
) or at www.ouac.on.ca
(June 1 st
). Final grades to colleges and universities will be submitted on July 7 th
. For students wishing to explore availability of other programs, they are asked to check on the Ontario Colleges site as well as the Admission Information Service at the Ontario Universities’ site, www.ouac.on.ca/ ais . This service will be available to students from June 4 th
–
August 28 th
. Applications for student loans can be made at www.osap.gov.on.ca
.
A multitude of volunteer and summer employment opportunities have been posted in the Guidance office. Students are asked to check frequently for any new postings. Report cards will be available for pick up as of June 26 th
.
For students who have yet to complete their IPP and reach 100%, here’s something that can be done during those lazy, daisy warm days of summer. Login to your account at www.myblueprint.ca/ dpcdsb to complete the tasks that are still outstanding.
And finally, the Guidance team would like to congratulate all of our graduates and wish them well as they look forward to the next great adventure. We’re proud of their achievements and accomplishments and honoured to have been part of their journey here at Philip Pocock. Blessings of happiness, health and continued success in all of their future endeavours.
A safe and enjoyable summer to all!
The voices of four of
our Pocock Students
were heard very clearly
and the ideas they
voiced resonated
strongly with the
audience.
Our students, along with 3 other students from Cardinal Ambrozic CSS, were the student representatives at an "Exploring
Paths to Learning" conference held on May 20 at the Versailles
Convention Centre.
The students were asked a series of questions that explored many facets of their learning and education within a Catholic
School environment. Students were asked for their ideas and perspective on topics such as student engagement, teaching and learning styles, communication, technology, inclusivity and faith.
In attendance were a number of educators, including teachers, administrators and Ministry of Education representatives who attentively listened (and made notes) to the student responses.
Together the students provided refreshing perspectives as well as informative insights in terms of what education means to them.
These student viewpoints will assist in making and steering decision makers in education towards initiatives that will promote student engagement both in the classroom and school environment.
The four Philip Pocock CSS students who participated and represented Pocock so proudly in the event were; Adrian Lewczuk -
Grade 11, Amela Shpori - Grade 11, Andrew Buchanan - Grade
12, and Caroline Frankfurter - Grade 12
Many of the audience members personally commented on how all of the students demonstrated a great deal of maturity and confidence in their conduct. The Student Voice initiative gave a great opportunity for students to share ideas and truly feel acknowledged.

2005 2007
Marisa Baratta loved her years at
Pocock and looks back on them very fondly. A writer since the age of five, she took as many
English classes as she could, along with French, Math and
Italian. She wrote for Rant & Rave , the school newspaper, and later became editor.
After high school, she completed her Specialized Honours in English at Glendon College, York University's bilingual campus, which gave her the chance to continue her
French studies. Her passion for writing led her to pursue a Book & Magazine Publishing certificate at Centennial College. She interned for four different magazines before working as a freelance writer, editorial assistant and online editor. Today, she works as a senior editor at Yellow Pages and absolutely loves her job.
During her four years at
Philip Pocock , Laura
Baratta was very passionate about the performing arts and was heavily involved in the videos and skits performed and showed at school assemblies. She is also proud to have been the co-editor of Rant & Rave in her final year at Pocock. Upon graduating, she attended York University to study in their Fine Arts &
Cultural studies program , which she graduated from in 2010 with Honours. Following graduation, she interned in television for a year. Deciding television was not what she was passionate about, she moved to the capital of the United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi
(you know, that city in The Fast and The Furious 7 ). While there, she taught English as a second language to local professionals, government employees, military officials, and expatriates for three years. Living and teaching there afforded her the opportunity to travel and explore countries in Asia with
Thailand and Sri Lanka being her favourites.
She has recently returned to Canada to com-
2009
Livio Delgado plete her postgraduate degree in Autism and
Behavioural Science from Mohawk College.
Granda
Patricia Baratta graduated from Philip Pocock Catholic
Secondary School in 2007 where she received the
Ontario Scholar Award, the
Core French Proficiency
Award, and the World History Proficiency Award. Patricia was an active member of
Rant & Rave and became its editor in Grade 12.
Her favourite subject was history, which she pursued as a minor while completing her undergraduate degree. Patricia Baratta is now a PhD student in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at the University of Guelph. She received a Master of Arts in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Guelph and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University of
Toronto. As part of her undergraduate research,
Patricia co-authored two publications on romantic relationships. She also authored book chapters and conference proceedings on topics such as workplace boredom, performance management, and emotional intelligence as part of her Master’s and Ph.D. research. Patricia also has three years of applied experience working for Organization & Management Solutions where she worked directly with organizations to help solve organizational problems. Patricia is currently completing a summer internship at
BMO as an Organization Design & Effectiveness
Analyst.
Livio Delgado Granda graduated with high honours from Seneca
College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Aviation Technology. He is a
First Officer with Jazz Aviation LP, flying on behalf of Air Canada Express on the DeHavilland Canada Dash-8 series aircraft. Having been hand-picked, along with eight of his graduating classmates, he received the opportunity to fly with Jazz soon after graduating from college in June 2013. Being based in Montreal, Quebec, he flies regional and trans-border routes, safely carrying passengers to their destinations. His knowledge and passion for languages, apparent in his studies of French at Pocock, has become part of his daily routine.
He is heavily involved in the Air Cadet program (having been a cadet himself until 2009 with
142 Mimico ‘Determination’ Squadron in Etobicoke) and teaches young and upcoming pilots principles of flight, aeronautics and navigation. He also continues to play his trombone (a skill perfected in the 4 years he spent in the music program at Philip Pocock) being an active member of the Baturyn Marching Band, and he makes monthly trips to Toronto to participate in parades and practices. He continues to visit the Pocock community and has been asked a few times to give presentations to the Careers class. He considers himself to be a Pocock
‘Pirate’ and is always thankful for the great teachers and education he received while in high school which formed a solid base to his post-secondary education.
2009
Elvis Geziqi
Elvis Geziqi graduated from McMaster
University with an
Honours Bachelor of
Commerce in 2013.
He is a Business
Analyst for a medical laboratory and is working towards the
CPA designation which he expects to complete by 2017. His most memorable moment is his English class in Pocock when he played
Iago with a Scottish accent in Shakespeare’s
Othello .
Where Are They Now? is a feature dedicated to Pocock Alumni.
Check out our JUNE newsletters on the following website for alumni profiles and news: http://www.dpcdsb.org/POCOK/News/
We look forward to hearing from our graduates so we can include you in our publication.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015..Gr.9 Link Crew Orientation Day
Thursday, September 3, 2015……………………………………….P.D. Day
Monday, September 7, 2015………………….………………...Labour Day
Tuesday, September 8, 2015………………….……………...School Starts
Wednesday, September 16, 2015……….……………………..Photo Day
Friday, September 18, 2015 ………………………………………….P.D. Day
Wednesday, September 30, 2015………………..Parent Council Mtg.
…………………………………………………………@ 7:00 p.m. in the Library
Friday, October 9, 2015…………………………....Early Warning Letters
Monday, October 12, 2015……………………………..Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, October 14, 2015………………………Photo Re-Take Day
Thursday, October 15, 2015………………….Academic Awards Night
Thursday, October 22, 2015……………..Parent/Teacher Interviews
Wednesday, November 4, 2015 …….Take Your Kids To Work Day
Thursday, November 5, 2015………………………..Parent Math Night
Wednesday, November 11, 2015………………….Remembrance Day
Tuesday, November 17, 2015 ……………….Mid-Term Report Cards
Wednesday, November 18, 2015…….…….Gr. 8 Information Night
Mon. November 30-Fr. December 11, 2015……...…..Grad. Photos
Wednesday, November 25, 2015………………..Parent Council Mtg.
………………………………………………………..@ 7:00 p.m. in the Library
Thursday, December 10, 2015……………………….Christmas Concert
Friday, December 18, 2015………………...Christmas Holidays Begin
Newsletter Coordinator & Layout Person: E. Polin-De Luca
Editors: L. Daniels, D. Di Croce, E. Ibisevic, E. Polin-De Luca, S. Popowich, V. Vittori
IMAGES 2015 - Dufferin Peel's annual exhibition of art by secondary students was on display from
June 5th–12th. It was at the Mississauga Civic
Centre. There were hundreds of drawings, paintings and sculptures from 26 high schools and our students’ work was featured prominently with 24 entries. Congratulations to all our students for creating an amazing Display of Talent !
In the Spring of 2015, staff and students of Philip
Pocock Catholic Secondary School attended the prestigious Harry Jerome Awards ceremony at the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto. Harry
Jerome’s talent and tenacity on and off the track inspired a generation of Canadians to “never give up” in their own endeavours. Harry Jerome’s legacy of athletic excellence and commitment to youth remain pillars of motivation and inspiration today.
The Harry Jerome Awards celebrate the significant contributions that many individuals have made in the black community and the community at large. Our students proudly represented Philip Pocock CSS at the formal black tie event. Our students had the opportunity to meet with community dignitaries, listen to talented singers and watch outstanding performances. We look forward to providing this opportunity for our students as a yearly event.