2015–2016 PICKERING COLLEGE Report Card
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2015–2016 PICKERING COLLEGE report card INTRODUCTION The 2015-2016 school year was about setting the stage for what is to come. Yet, it was no less remarkable than other years in terms of what we achieved. Academically, it saw the full rollout and implementation of the Global Leadership Program. Now, students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 benefit from its academic rigour, balanced with values-based education. We took the time to review all of our curricular, co-curricular and boarding programs so that the necessary adjustments could be made to ensure they align seamlessly with the Global Leadership Program. For the first time, the results of our Global Leadership Program became tangible. Anyone who attended the Capstone Project, Expression of Self or My Key Idea presentations at the conclusion of the school year can attest to this. Our students are exemplifying the attributes of good leadership and are poised and ready to make a difference in the world. I could not be more proud. In terms of our Campus Master Plan, we took the time to rethink and reimagine the Centre for Creativity and Innovation; as we reviewed and retooled our plans, we developed a much more financially-prudent approach. We took great care in developing a Centre for Creativity and Innovation that will provide our students and teachers with 21st century learning space. This time to reflect has not deterred us from moving forward, if anything it has provided us with the drive to ensure we are making the right decisions for Pickering College and for our future generations of global leaders. The Board and the Administration continue to stand firmly behind us as we await site plan approval. We are now on the cusp of a very exciting time in our history, filled with possibility. Pickering College will, as it always has, remain strong and vital, as we boldly move towards the future. Peter Sturrup, Headmaster 1 STRATEGIC PLAN 2015-2016 Priorities Achieved 4 Implement Year 3 of the Global Leadership Program, including Junior and Middle School programs 4 Achieve Year 2 targets for Light The Way Campaign Ongoing Priorities 4 Complete all plans and applications for Phase 2 of the Campus Master Plan Priorities for 2016-2017 4 Implement Year 4 of the Global Leadership Program, JK to Grade 12 4 Secure funding for Phase 2 of the Campus Master Plan 4 Begin construction of Phase 2 of the Campus Master Plan 2 2015 – 2016 Pickering College Report Card INSPIRED STUDENTS 2015-2016 Priorities Achieved Our graduates will need to be 4 Ensured Global Leadership Program (GLP) implementation in Junior and Middle School as well critical thinkers, risk-takers, strong as review the role of the GLP with boarding life, communicators and creative trips and exchanges and post-secondary counselling problem solvers who are adaptable, 4 Completed Ministry of Education inspection successfully self-confident and globally aware. and prepare for CAIS Accreditation process 4 Implemented recommendations on Outdoor Education We inspire and equip our students program for Kindergarten to Grade 8 by delivering a challenging and engaging program that reflects the Ongoing Priorities continuous pursuit of academic 4 Ensure alignment of all curricular, co-curricular and boarding programs with the goals of the Global excellence and one that purposefully Leadership Program nurtures and develops leadership, 4 Implement recommendations on Outdoor Education creativity and social responsibility. program for Grades 9 to Grade 12 Students discover and ignite the passion within themselves through Priorities for 2016-2017 4 Prepare internal report for CAIS Accreditation co-curricular programs such as the 4 arts, competitive and recreational Successfully graduate the first class to earn the Global Leadership Diploma athletics, clubs and community service that more fully integrate 21st century skills. We will sustain and build on the special strengths our community has identified: the personal and individual attention we provide our students; the safe, supportive and respectful environment; and the diverse cultures and experiences within our community, including leveraging the strengths of our boarding program. 3 INSPIRED STUDENTS (Continued) PC Highlights from 2015-2016 4 Grade 12 students explored innovative programing at post-secondary institutions, learned about effective 4 Forty-eight students successfully completed the storytelling at the Aga Khan Museum, defended their “Adventurous Journey” component of the Duke Capstone Project topics at a whole-grade debate of Edinburgh’s Award (Bronze Level) during the tournament and, in final preparation for their Capstone annual Grade 9 leadership trip by participating pitch, spent time learning from expert mentors. in an overnight camping trip in September. 4 The Grade 1 class visited 102.7 Chop FM for an 4 Grade 9 students impressed the community with their introduction to the radio station. They learned about responses to their interdisciplinary project, a year-long the sound booth, microphone and mixing board. investigation into making PC more sustainable. They recorded station greetings and updated the 4 Grade 10 students explored culture and identity. community on their environmental inquiry-based They attended a full-day workshop that centred on Clean Bin Project. First Nations culture and context presented by 4 In November and December students broadcasted live Canadian Roots and explored culture at four different from the Newmarket Santa Claus Parade, the Aurora universities. Their Quaker exploration day included Santa Claus Parade and the Aurora Tree Lighting workshops on historical Quaker context. Ceremony. 4 Grade 11 students visited VentureLab in Markham 4 In April, Emily Perkovic, Grade 12 and Thomas Bianco, and participated in a design sprint led by Future Grade 4 presented to Newmarket Town Council about Design School at MaRS Innovation Centre in Toronto. the past, present and future of 102.7 CHOP FM. They then spent a day prototyping different types of solutions through various workshops, working through their Capstone Project selection. 4 2015 – 2016 Pickering College Report Card 4 Patrick Prochazka, Grade 10, Sterling Mancuso, 4 In April, at the Spring Fulford Debate Tournament, Grade 11, and Margaret Montgomery, Grade 12, Grade 8 students Jenna Farmer and Katherine Starr represented Pickering College in October at the finished in 4th and 5th place, respectively, and International Independent Schools Public Speaking together combined their scores to earn the Pickering and Debate Competition at the York School in College Junior Team a second place finish. Toronto. In the category of Extemporaneous 4 Mandy Coleman, Grade 12, was awarded the Zetzl Speaking, Sterling Mancuso placed first overall. Family Science Award by Alexander Zetzl ’05 for her 4 In November, Ethan Fitzsimons, Grade 12, Sterling stellar academic performance in her Grade 11 science Mancuso, Grade 11, and Nupur Krishnan, Grade 10, courses the previous year. competed at the Ontario Qualifier for the Senior 4 Nupur Krishnan, Grade 10, developed a proposal National Public Speaking Competition at Appleby to help deaf and hard-of-hearing youth to be safe College. Ethan placed first in the category of when home alone, as well as deliver basic first aid. Impromptu Speaking and his overall score placed She earned a $1,500 grant from United Way Greater him in the top eight. Simcoe Muskoka. The first workshop took place 4 At the Junior Qualifiers, Katherine Starr, Grade 8, in May with the assistance of St. John’s Ambulance impressed judges with her speech that provided and Deaf Access. concrete remedies for the problem of plastic 4 Grade 10 students Erin Falcon, Megan Robinson microbeads, earning her Top Persuasive Speech at and Samantha McDougall won the final Youth and the tournament. Katherine also went on to compete Philanthropy Initiative Challenge in January, earning at the Canadian Junior High Speech Nationals, a $5,000 charitable donation for the Canadian earning second place in Interpretive Reading and Cultural Society of the Deaf. placing eleventh overall in Canada. Also at Junior 4 Qualifiers, Emma Kerswill, Grade 9, spoke on societal Pickering College achieved gold certification with neglect of Canadian veterans. Her exceptional Ontario EcoSchools thanks in large part to the impromptu speech earned seventh place and Emma initiatives of the Junior and Middle School Green again secured a spot at the Junior Nationals. Team and the Senior School Green Team, under the leadership of Grade 12 student Josie Kanu. 4 In February, Pickering College won the Kaufman Cup. 4 Earning first place with a tournament best of 511 During Green Week, students powered down during points was a Grade 8 team of Meghan Beswick and Earth Hour and planted pea and bean seedlings to be Madeleine Rickman. A combined Grade 8/9 team transferred to raised garden beds behind the Dining of Katherine Starr and Emma Kerswill earned third Hall. The planters were made possible from a $1000 place honours. grant from the Farmer Environmental Stewardship award, won by Josie Kanu, Grade 12, for the second consecutive year. 5 INSPIRED STUDENTS (Continued) 4 Placing in the top 25% of all contestants and earning certificates of distinction were: Grade 9 Pascal contest: Jay Bao, Kirsten Yip, Kenya Kimata, Leo Ji and our school medal winner, finishing in the top 5% of more than 10,000 contestants in Ontario, Melissa D’Amico. 4 Grade 10 Cayley contest: Nupur Krishnan, Ingrid Tai, Peter Ai, Sophia Husein, Rictol Ren and our school medal winner, finishing in the top 1% of more than 8,000 contestants in Ontario, Patrick Prochazka. 4 Grade 11 Fermat contest: Saniya Islambekova, Teddy Ding, Nathan Bao, Steven Sun, Jessie Choi and our school medal winner, finishing in the top 4% of more than 6,000 contestants in Ontario – Laurel Xu. 4 In in the University of Waterloo Spring Math Contests: In the Fryer contest written by Grade 9 students, 4 The annual Coffee House was a joint venture by the Melissa D'Amico and Peter He both scored above Youth Action Organization and Student Committee.