Strathcona Script

May 2019 Issue

By Jasmine Chabba, Grade 10 Student

Big Fish Musical

Strathcona High School is known for its formidable reputation in all four of its fundamental pillars- academics, athletics, leadership, and the arts- and this year’s musical has been no exception. On April 23-27, 2019, the Scona Theatre Company brought their own rendition of Big Fish to the Arts Barn.

A story that begins by recapping the unique relationship between a father, Edward, and son, William, brings the audience along on the elaborate bedtime stories told by Edward in an attempt to explain his life to his young son. As the son grows older and the father becomes terminally ill, William takes it upon himself to look into his father's stories and begins to understand the man and his relationship with storytelling.

Putting on a production of this size and caliber is no small feat. Once again, however, Ms. Linette J. Smith and Mr. Mark Vetsch are up to the challenge along with musical directors Mackenzie Reurink and Stephanie Urquhart. Musical productions require a rigorous commitment from both directors, the tech team and the cast of around 60 students and part of what sets Strathcona apart from other musicals is the standard of professionalism the casts are held to. The rehearsal process began early in the school year and continued into late April with the cast rehearsing up to four or five times a week. This year, select cast members were even required to attend rehearsals at Firefly Studios to learn skills similar to ones performed by the Cirque du Soleil. With all the extra work put into the production, the result was guaranteed to be nothing less than extraordinary!

The Scona Musical Theater Company not only serves to foster the development of exceptional actors, but also the development of great people. The skills that are taught within the program do not only apply to to when one is on stage, instead will continue to benefit the students throughout their high school careers and beyond.

1 By: Bohan Hu, Grade 11 Student

Science Olympics

Scona is infamous for its excellent sports teams, such as the Track and Field team, and award winning Arts programs. However, not many people know about the outstanding academic clubs also available at Scona. Science Olympics is one such club. The APEGA Science Olympics is an annual Science competition that takes place in many cities throughout Alberta, including Edmonton, and Scona’s very own Science Olympics teams took part in the event on April 9th!

The preliminary stage of the competition began in early January, when grade 11 and 12 students formed groups of 4-5 to submit a design proposal for a working fluidized bed, and from there, four teams were selected to compete at the Science Olympics.

The competition starts off with a Classroom challenge, which requires a mechanical project created beforehand and brought to the competition for testing and judging. There are also mystery challenges, which are introduced and completed during the competition. Teams will receive points for completing these challenges, and according to point thresholds, can receive either gold, silver, or bronze!

The Science Olympics competition challenges students to use their problem solving skills in a stressful setting, as well as test their team building abilities. This competition also focuses on engineering and geoscience careers, and allows students to obtain first-hand experience on how their everyday lives may be impacted by these fields.

As an academic club at Scona, the Science Olympics gives students “a way to express their intellectual interests.” says Ms. Lei, a teacher supervisor,“[as it] challenges students to use what they have learned [in the classroom] and apply it in unfamiliar situations.” Students work hard behind the scenes to conquer each and every challenge thrown their way, as well as work together on the spot to solve mystery problems with no previous preparation. They need to work well as a team and perform their best in a highly stressful situation.

For Hannah Christie, a member of the Scona Science Olympics team, the reason she joined this team was to “[be] able to implement the skills and lessons taught in class to real world

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situations.” To her, a challenging part of Science Olympics is taking different skills she learned from different classes and combining them to solve a single problem.

Science Olympics is also challenging in many other ways. Teamwork is essential to the team’s success. “Working as a team [is] enjoyable, but it does have its difficulties at times when trying to come to a consensus,” says Ammad Hussain, another member of the team. However, “[it] has definitely helped us think outside the box and become better thinkers and problem solvers.” In addition, this opportunity also allows students to form new relationships with others that share the same interests. “I've [made] some close friends from participating and it has been quite a good experience.” Ammad adds.

As a club that has existed at Scona since the early 80’s, Science Olympics is a recognized club but unlike other clubs such as athletics, “there are no practices or games leading up to the big day, but there are many days and nights of hard work that [goes] into preparing the take- home project,” says Ms. Lei. When asked about her favourite part of Science Olympics, she replied with “my favourite part is when the students hand in their posters and prototype for the take-home challenge...as a teacher, it is really gratifying to know that students are interested in applying what they have learned from you.”

Science Olympics is a great place for students to unleash their creativity and make imagination become reality. With clubs like Science Olympics, Scona continues to provide environments filled with enthusiasm, and alongside people with the same passion, students are given a chance to do something they love. Congratulations to three Strathcona teams that were able to engineer a silver level performance at the event!

3 By Camilo Cortes, Grade 10 Student

Scona Swim Team

When one thinks of what it means to be a Lord, what it meant to go to Scona, maybe the newer generations think Bikeathon, our global initiative. Others think the green tiles that deck our walls. Maybe the tracks team 50 some consecutive years of city championships. Or, of course the Scona culture that people work so hard to cultivate. But for the past 3+ decades, the swim team has been winning championships and have also come to represent an integral part of Scona identity, swimmers and floaters alike. When this was threatened this year with the very real possibility of the pool closing down, one could really see how the swim community came together, generations bridged, to fight for something cared so deeply about, something that had touched so many people, it was worth fighting for. When the city announced the pool was on the chopping block, they also unknowingly announced a part of Scona culture was on the chopping block. In the words of Kirby, our extremely dedicated coach who goes above and beyond what anyone can even imagine and without whom we wouldn’t even have a swim team. The amazing thing about the Scona swim team is just how many people join every year from those who have never swam before to those who swim everyday, there’s never a shortage in new swimmers, eager to learn from the over 50 coaches who all volunteer their time to help. The success of the team in the swimming side speaks for itself with 33 consecutive City Championships. But the swim team is also so much more than just swim. The no-cut policy is central to this. More than

4 3000 kids have been coached by Coach Kirby alone. The sheer scale of the team means it becomes a community outside and in the water, a group of people who feel comfortable with themselves and their teammates. Even though swimming is usually an individual sport, the coaches really make sure everyone knows it truly is a team sport at heart. There's something special about watching athletes waking up every morning to train, and cheers so loud they shake the room. This year more than ever, the team aspect shone through when everyone gathered at City Hall to support those who spoke on Scona’s behalf to keep the community pool open. To see the chairs full of high school kids in swim team apparel, giving up their day off of school to fight to keep their pool open was to see what Coach Kirby described as “this endless cycle of inspiration and motivation [between coaches and swimmers] which, when taken into life, makes life AWESOME!”. It’s an exemplification of our motto “As one who serves”. The swim team is here to stay, and hopefully the 34th year is next.

5 By Neha Vyavahare, Grade 12 Student

Old Meets New: First Graduating Class of

New Strathcona Building Reunites

It may not be known to most Scona students that this school’s journey of education did not begin in the current location in which it resides. The original building opened in 1908, the same building that is now known as Old Scona Academic High School. In 1955, Strathcona discovered a need to expand with Edmonton’s growing population, and moved to today’s current location. So began the life of what would become the present-day home to all Scona Lords.

In early September of 2018, heartfelt memories were remembered when the first graduating class of the new Strathcona High School building held their 60th reunion in the school. Upon entering the school, alumni noted the vast extent that it had changed since they were students; most notably the new renovations to the building which were completed in 2015, yet they all expressed their pleasure that the school still maintained its traditional core values. The former students interacted with current students and teachers, exchanging stories and memories of their respective high school experiences. The differences between the generations are forgotten when they come together with a common gratitude and love for Scona, a school that continues to nurture students that strive to use their education to achieve great success. For some, memories are remembered, while for others, memories are just being born.

6 It is difficult to imagine a Scona that is different from the one that the current Lords know so well; however, former student Wytze Brouwer has seen Scona’s past and present, and has even had a glance at its future. He commented on the vast and diverse range of excellence that Strathcona now offers to students. Mr. Brouwer compared the few-sided Scona that he knew as a student, with the multi-dimensional Scona that he sees today, envying the “extensive library with its study spaces and its wonderful learning technology.” He recalled his time at Scona, commenting on past friendships- some of which have lasted a lifetime- and the warm environment that Scona still offers. And, despite not visiting Scona frequently, Mr. Brouwer is happy to report that the school did not feel unfamiliar and strange to step into; something he attributes to having developed many friendships during high school. “We felt at home again,'' he recalls, felt welcomed, remembered.

Although Scona has not changed in its values, “In high school you have Mr. Brouwer noticed a stark difference at the reunion in friends, a few so-called the manner in which his former classmates interacted enemies, and many students with each other. The enmities and differences between you feel indifferent to. At the the former students were forgotten when they came 60th reunion, everybody was together to celebrate their memorable times at Scona. your friend. There were hugs For people like Mr. Brouwer, who still stays in touch all around even with students with a number of his classmates and friends, the reunion who hardly remembered you. was an opportunity to begin reconnecting with others Big smiles from everybody, and sharing a collective love for Scona. It seems that even from the girls who some friendships did not need the walls of high school didn’t pay any attention to to maintain their strength, and some needed the walls of me in high school.” high school to become strong once again. - Wytze Brouwer It was indeed a night of heartfelt reminiscence, and a hopeful glance at the students whose hands hold the future of Strathcona High School and the world around them. No matter how much time passes after a Scona student’s high school graduation, they will always remain a Scona Lord, with the same pride, energy, and compassion that Scona has instilled in its students for all these years. Once a Lord, Always a Lord.

If your next reunion is interested in a school tour please reach out to us and we can help organize a date with current staff and student tour guides!

7 By: Surain He, Grade 11 Student, and Brooklyn Plitt, Grade 12 Student

Track and Field at Strathcona

Every year, approximately 200 of Strathcona High School students participate in Track and Field. Students and coaches are already busy as they work towards the City Championships at the end of May. Strathcona has won 48 consecutive City Championship titles and have their sights set on a strong performance again this year. The practices (offered 5 days a week), BBQs, games, and the meetings all help to keep this tradition alive! The Indoor Track team competed in the Running Room Games recently and are excited that the outdoor season is underway!

Our success with Track and Field is due to the mass participation of our students. Year after year, students from grades 10-12 come out to represent our school. The Strathcona team is a no-cut team, and everyone is welcome, no matter their experience or abilities. At Strathcona, we participate in events such as the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and individual track events. There are also relay events, like the 4x200m. There are also individual events such as javelin, shot put, long jump, and triple jump, happening too! With such a variety of events, students have their choice of what they would like to try.

Mr. Buffi, the head coach, is joined by numerous volunteer community coaches and staff who help with the team. Each year, they encourage students to come out no matter their experience. Not only do the teachers do a wonderful job in coaching the students for Track and Field, but they also coach other sports too! Like the rest of the Strathcona community, both students and teachers participate in multiple sports. Many students of Strathcona High School go on to incorporate the Track and Field discipline into their post secondary experience.

Within the last 4 years Strathcona Alumni have become a part of these teams:

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● 20 University of Alberta “Golden Bear and Pandas” Track & Field, Football, Volleyball, and Soccer team members. ● 5 University of Grant Macewan “Griffins” Track and Field, Volleyball team members. ● 5 University of Victoria “Vikes” Track and Field and Cross Country team members. ● 1 University of Guelph “Gryphons” Track and Field team member. Alumnus Highlight:

Cassandra Grenke is a fourth year University of Alberta Track and Field athlete, as well as former Strathcona grad and Track and field participant. She attended Strathcona from 2012- 2015 and was a key contributor to the success of the school’s Track and field team.

She competed on the track team during her three years of attending Strathcona High School making her a part of Scona’s 42, 43, and 44 consecutive City Championships. Her 4x400m and 4x100m relay teams experienced a great deal of success, achieving four 1st place wins at City Championships over the three years. In her grade 11 and 12 years, she won first place in both the 200m sprint and 80m hurdles.

She now attends the University of Alberta in the Faculty of Kinesiology Sport and Recreation and is taking a Bachelor of Kinesiology and Bachelor of Education degree. She continues to pursue Track and Field and is currently in her 4th year as a Pandas Track athlete. She continues to experience success in her athletics as she has competed at the provincial and national levels multiple times. Her 4x200m relay team holds their school record for the fastest time, and they have won U-sport championships twice in her varsity career. She has also found a lot of success in 60m hurdles where she has made finals at Nationals every year she has competed on the U of A team. She is only one hundredth of a second off of the school record which is held by a fellow Scona alumni, Alexa Hrycun! She also made Canada Summer Games in 2017 finishing 10th overall in the 200m final and 2nd in the 4x100m relay. In all of her successes, she has been a part of the Pandas 2015-16 and 2016-17 Canada West Championships. Cassandra has achieved an immense amount of success in her athletics and has revisited her junior high to help coach hurdles in some Physical Education classes as a way of giving back

9 Cassandra has achieved an immense amount of success in her athletics and has revisited her junior high to help coach hurdles in some Physical Education classes as a way of giving back to the communities that gave so much to her. She said: “It’s been cool teaching people how to do something I love.”

Looking back, one of her best memories of Scona track is the community. “Scona has such an awesome tradition of bringing a big group out to City’s and holding that title for almost 50 years now,” she says. The way Scona is able to create a community where not only current students feel a sense of belonging and pride, but alumni can also feel a connection to their school is truly amazing.

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