September 15, 2017

SEPTEMBER 15, 2017

STS Express

Weekly Newsletter

CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ...... 3 CREATING A CULTURE OF DIGNITY ...... 3 IMPORTANT DATES ...... 4 SEPTEMBER ...... 4 SCHOOL CALENDARS ...... 4 UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ...... 5 NEW PARENT RECEPTION - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 ...... 5 R.S.V.P. TO YOUR GRADE SOCIAL(S) ...... 5 EXPERTS IN EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017 ...... 6 SAVE THE DATE FOR APRIL’S EXPERTS IN EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES EVENT ...... 7 FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS ...... 7 SCHOOL EMERGENCY PROGRAM ...... 7 BUSSING REMINDER ...... 7 JOIN POSTS ON FACEBOOK ...... 7 TWEEDS AND MORE NEEDS YOUR HELP ...... 8 NEW TO CALGARY WALKING GROUP – SIGN UP! ...... 8 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ...... 9 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY RUN – OCTOBER 2 ...... 9 LOST AND FOUND ...... 9 TWEEDS AND MORE ...... 9 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS ...... 10 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTICES ON MY STS PARENT PORTAL ...... 10 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 2017-2018 ...... 10 PARENT VIEWPOINT REMINDER ...... 11 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS ...... 11 PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS LAUNCH PAD ...... 11 MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS ...... 12 GRADE 10 PERSONAL PROJECT – SHARING YOUR PASSION ...... 12 2018 SPAIN/FRANCE LANGUAGE TRIP FOR GRADES 10-11 ...... 12 STS ATHLETICS INFORMATION SESSIONS ...... 13

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UNIVERSITY COUNSELLING OFFICE ...... 13 UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES VISITING STS ...... 14 OUT OF PROVINCE UNIVERSITY FAIR ...... 15 UNIVERSITY PLANNING PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS ...... 15 UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY ...... 16 UNIVERSITY SEARCH TOOLS ...... 16 WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS ...... 17 GRADE 10 ORIENTATION CAMP ...... 17 PYP INQUIRY UNIT: OUR WORLD ROCKS! ...... 18 32nd ANNUAL TERRY FOX RUN – CANADA 150...... 18 GRADE 1s CHOOSING WHERE THEY LEARN BEST ...... 19

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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

CREATING A CULTURE OF DIGNITY Social media has provided a popular platform for young people to use for communicating with friends. Some would tell you that it is their preferred and primary communication method. There are certainly some benefits to these platforms. But they have also enabled and indeed amplified opportunities for poor and unkind behaviour such as cyber-bullying. Their ubiquitous nature makes them somewhat inescapable and some (adults and young people) have become addicted to their use; in some cases, impairing their productivity and mental health. And despite their promise to connect people, some users are left feeling more isolated than ever. Moreover, many students are more knowledgeable and adept than their parents in using these tools, which makes it difficult for even the most vigilant parents to monitor. In her recent article in The Atlantic entitled, Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?, Jean Twenge paints a rather stark picture of the role that smartphones and social media are playing in shaping the lives of young people today. The statistics in this article are American, but I doubt there is much difference among Canadian youth. You may find it disturbing, but I highly recommend that you read this article, which can be found at: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/09/has-the-smartphone-destroyed-a- generation/534198/. At STS, we are taking steps to teach students more about digital citizenship and the use of social media. However, we are a microcosm of our broader society and our students are not immune to exposure to some of the socially troublesome behaviours enabled by smartphones and social media. As part of our continuing efforts to educate both parents and students on this perplexing issue, we will be presenting bestselling author and renowned public speaker, Rosalind Wiseman in the C.A. Smith Arts Centre (theatre) at STS on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:00 pm as part of our Experts in Education Speaker Series. Ms. Wiseman will speak about young people's friendships, social media use, gossip, drama, bullying, and the constant pressure to "keep up”. She will share how children and teens develop their sense of self and guide their decision making in everything from their academic choices, friends, and how they manage conflict. In addition, she'll give concrete advice to parents and educators so they in turn can guide their children through the normal yet challenging problems young people face. She will also be spending time with students in Grades 4 – 12, September 26 and 27, to have an open conversation about what they are dealing with and to provide some tools to help them traverse these sometimes tricky waters. I guarantee that the September 26 evening presentation will be both eye-opening and informative, and parents will leave with some concrete strategies on how to navigate through the social media conundrum with your children. If you can only attend one event at our school this year, I highly recommend it be this one.

Dr. William Jones Head of School

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IMPORTANT DATES In addition to the listed dates below, be sure to check for new events throughout the year online – the following calendar can be downloaded in an iCal format.

SEPTEMBER September 21, 2017 Kindergarten Social September 22, 2017 Grades 1 and 2 Social September 23, 2017 Grade 7 Social September 25, 2017 at 7:00 pm New Parent Reception

September 26, 2017 at 7:00 pm Experts in Education Speaker Series – Rosalind Wiseman September 29, 2017 Casual Dress Day Grades 5 and 6 Social

SCHOOL CALENDARS For more important dates and upcoming events, the following school calendars can be found on the STS website:

2017 – 2018 School Holiday Calendar

Upcoming Events Calendar

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UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

NEW PARENT RECEPTION - MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 We invite all new families to STS to join us at the New Parent Reception on September 25 at 7:00 pm at the Calgary Delta South to hear from Dr. Jones. Electronic invitations have been sent to all brand-new STS families. We look forward to seeing you!

R.S.V.P. TO YOUR GRADE SOCIAL(S) We are pleased to invite all STS parents to your child(ren)’s 2017–2018 grade social where you can socialize with returning parents, welcome new families, and find out how you can be involved with the STS community. Join us for an evening of delightful conversations and cocktails, 7:00 – 9:00 pm. You should receive an e-invitation from your grade’s parent host four to six weeks prior to each grade social. If you have any questions regarding the socials, please contact Caroline Banadar at 403-938-8344, [email protected]. Kindergarten Thursday, September 21 Tara Habijanac ’94 and Adrian Harbison Grades 1 and 2 Friday, September 22 Shannon and Mark Kharfan Grades 3 and 4 Thursday, February 22 Suzanne and Scott Henuset Grades 5 and 6 Friday, September 29 Carolynn and Tony Pensak Grade 7 Saturday, September 23 Rachel and Jeff Oke Grade 8 Saturday, October 14 Ali and Sorrayah Bhojani Grade 9 Friday, February 9 Richard Baverstock and Jennifer Browning

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Grade 10 Saturday, March 10 Deborah Petriuk and Miles Pittman Grade 11 Saturday, March 17 Karima ’89 and Khan Ali Grade 12 Friday, November 3 Kim and Tim Hart

EXPERTS IN EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES – TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2017

We welcome STS parents to join us for the 4th annual Experts in Education Speaker Series event featuring: Rosalind Wiseman A sought-after educator, author, and speaker on bullying, parenting, ethical leadership, and the use of social media, Wiseman’s presentations transcend cultural and economic boundaries in her appeal to ensure children’s and teenagers’ well-being. 7:00 pm, Tuesday, September 26, 2017 C.A. Smith Arts Centre, STS campus $15 ADMISSION

Tickets can be purchase online at www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/event-tickets

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NOTE: STS students in Grades 4 – 12 will have special youth-focused sessions with Rosalind Wiseman on September 26 and 27, during the day.

SAVE THE DATE FOR APRIL’S EXPERTS IN EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES EVENT STS will host Dr. Karyn Gordon, acclaimed teen and relationship expert, on April 26, 2018. Stay tuned for more details!

FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

SCHOOL EMERGENCY PROGRAM As you may already know, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School has an Emergency Response Plan, which would be implemented in the event of a local disaster or school emergency. The primary objective of the plan is to ensure the safety of your children and other people in the school. The school-wide Plan is reviewed and revised annually and, if required, after an emergency. A pdf copy of this document can be found on the My STS parent portal under School Policies or by clicking the following link: https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/School-Emergency-Program.pdf

BUSSING REMINDER As a reminder, if you are ever unsure whether or not your child is on their bus, or have a concern, please call First Student Canada (403-531-3900) as your first point of contact. Busses begin and end their routes outside of school hours. First Student Canada will be able to assist.

JOIN POSTS ON FACEBOOK Are you a Facebook user and current STS parent? Join the new POSTS Facebook group, and keep current with POSTS news and events. Look here for timely information about volunteering at STS, Tweeds and More, lost and found items, special events announcements as well as other news from POSTS. The POSTS Facebook group is a helpful, parent- to-parent resource where STS parents can post questions or information that help other STS parents. Whether you are selling your kids’ used skates or need someone to answer a question about the start time of the Elementary Assembly on Fridays, POSTS wants to help make connections easier for STS parents.

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Information shared within the POSTS Facebook group will only be seen by other group members, and all group members must be current STS parents. Join at https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentsorganizationofSTS/.

Please contact Tracy Pitcher, POSTS communications chair, if you have any questions or need assistance.

TWEEDS AND MORE NEEDS YOUR HELP STS’s in-school clothing store, Tweeds and More, is looking for volunteers.

Tweeds is run by POSTS and functions entirely through the support of parent volunteers. You can help other STS families with their uniform needs while at the same time meeting other parents and teachers in a relaxed environment.

Tweeds and More specializes in the consignment of gently worn uniform items, as well as the same of the school gym strip and other athletic options, polo shirts and various other STS accessories.

Scheduling volunteer time for Tweeds and More in done every three months and is very flexible based on your availability. Training is provided on what each grade level needs and how to process sales. Tweeds is open Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00 am —1:00 pm and Fridays 2:30 – 4:00 pm.

To sign up as a Tweeds and More volunteer, please contact Maggie Jegen at [email protected].

NEW TO CALGARY WALKING GROUP – SIGN UP!

Consider joining the Wednesday afternoon walking group if you are someone that enjoys a bit of activity along with a cup of tea or the occasional lunch outing! We meet each Wednesday at 2:00 pm by the Strathcona doors (where the buses drop off), walk the STS campus, and then enjoy a refreshment in the Black Watch Bistro at 3:00 pm.

To join our emailing list, which confirms plans or any change in plans each week, please contact the coordinators, Adele Deans or Tracy Pitcher, at [email protected] or [email protected], respectively.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

POSTS welcomes all new and returning volunteers! Just a friendly reminder that all volunteers (new and old) must fill in the volunteer registration form prior to any volunteer duties.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CROSS-COUNTRY RUN – OCTOBER 2 The count down for the Elementary School Cross-Country Run is on. Parents are needed on the morning of October 2 to help with the snack station, finish line timers, course marshalling, ribbons and photography. Don't forget to bring your running shoes for the parent/teacher run! Please use to following link to sign up: www.volunteersignup.org/K4CLR

LOST AND FOUND Lost and Found Volunteers needed! Please help once a month, or when you can, separating lost items and identifying and contacting owners. Times are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 11:00 am – 1:00 pm and Fridays 3:15-3:45 pm. It's a very important and rewarding way to help the School. Contact [email protected] if you are able to help.

TWEEDS AND MORE Tweeds and More is run by POSTS and functions entirely through the support of parent volunteers. You can help other STS families with their uniform needs while at the same time meeting other parents and teachers in a relaxed environment.

To sign up as a Tweeds and More volunteer, please contact Maggie Jegen at [email protected].

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL NOTICES ON MY STS PARENT PORTAL You will notice there have been changes made to the STS website and My STS Parent Portal. One of the resources that will be of interest for Elementary School parents is the “Elementary School Notices” section. This section will replace the Parent Downloads section of the old portal. This new section will be a repository for the news, announcements, downloads and information you find in the weekly STS Express that pertain to Elementary School. New documents added this week: • Grade 5 French DVD Letter • Grade 6 French Practice Reminder

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 2017-2018

September to New Facility Opening:

Location: Small Gym

Time: 3:00 pm

Once in New Facility:

Location: C.A. Smith Arts Centre (Theatre)

Time: 2:50 pm

Assembly Dates: September 15 February 23 October 13 March 9 October 27 March 23 November 17 April 13 December 8 April 20 January 19 May 18 January 26 June 1 February 2 June 8 February 9 – PYP Exhibition Assembly

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PARENT VIEWPOINT REMINDER Parent Viewpoint questionnaires are now available to download online. Please complete and return the questionnaire to your child’s homeroom teacher by Friday, September 22, 2017. This information will help us begin the school year with valuable information and assist us in providing an optimum learning environment for your child.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES AND CLUBS The Elementary School offers a variety of co-curricular activities to engage students and foster character development and leadership potential. Please visit the following page on the MySTS parent portal for a list that summarizes what is available this school year. Please be advised that these lists can change from time to time: https://www.sts.ab.ca/mysts/elementary-notices/elementary-co-curricular-activities- and-clubs

PRIMARY YEARS PROGRAMME CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS LAUNCH PAD Find out what is happening in our PYP this September. Please click on the link below to access information about the inquiries taking place within many different aspects of our Primary Years Programme. https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/Curriculum-Connections-Launch-Pad.pdf

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MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

GRADE 10 PERSONAL PROJECT – SHARING YOUR PASSION What’s your passion? Grade 10s attended a personal project workshop this week which helped them come up with topic ideas for the project and provided information on how to write a proposal. They were challenged to think about how they could use something they are passionate about to create a personal project. The Personal Project is an independent culminating project for the Middle Years Programme (MYP) that all Grade 10s must complete. It provides them with the opportunity to develop a long term project that they are responsible for seeing through to completion at the end of March. Students are to have topics submitted to Mr. Bodnar by Monday, September 18. Once all of the topics have been submitted, students will be assigned to an advisor teacher within the week. If you have any questions or require clarification, please do not hesitate to contact: Kirk Bodnar Personal, Project Coordinator [email protected] Jennifer Conway, MYP Coordinator [email protected]

MYP Personal Project Resources: MYP Personal Project Handbook Personal Project Parent Presentation

2018 SPAIN/FRANCE LANGUAGE TRIP FOR GRADES 10-11 Who is eligible to participate? Any student who is currently enrolled in Grade 10 or Grade 11. Dates: June 24 - July 5, 2018 Trip Duration: 12 days and 11 nights Itinerary Highlights: Language classes, cooking classes, Eiffel Tower, Sacré Coeur, Sagrada Familia, Prado Museum,

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Flamenco show, private bus, high speed train, breakfast and supper each day, full-time guide, included are all entrances and tipping (except lunches) Accommodation: 3 star hotels / 2 students per room Cost: $4,100 dollars (dependent on final numbers) Next Steps: 1) Meeting next week for students (Wednesday at lunch) 2) Set-up of a Managebac group “Sprance2” 3) Parent meeting in October where further information will be shared. Questions?: Contact Mr. Thomson at [email protected] or 403-938 4431, ext. 271 Chaperones: Mr. Thomson, Ms. Abboud, and Mrs. Smith

STS ATHLETICS INFORMATION SESSIONS Do you want to know more about how athletics are run at STS? Mr. Zelez, the Director of Athletics, will be holding two information sessions titled “STS Athletics – Everything you wanted to know from team selection to awards”. The information sessions will last 45 minutes with a 15-minute question period. The sessions will be held at the School on the following dates and times: Tuesday, September 19 at 9:00 am Tuesday, September 19 at 6:30 pm Please use this form to confirm your attendance and Mr. Zelez.

UNIVERSITY COUNSELLING OFFICE The student area of the University Counselling office offers resources about post-secondary planning and program information from around the world. Please feel free to stop by and check it out! Appointment Requests Parents and students are welcomed and encouraged to book an appointment with Ms. Caines to discuss the university planning process. Parents, please email [email protected] to set up an appointment. Students can book appointments directly through their STS Outlook account by using the “Scheduling Assistant” feature.

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UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES VISITING STS In the next several weeks, the following universities will have a representative visiting STS. All Senior School students and parents are welcomed and encourage to attend as many as possible to gain insight into a variety of programs.

Date Time/Location University

Monday, 8:30-8:45 am St. George’s, University of London: September 18 University The UK’s only university dedicated to medical and Counselling health sciences education, including a Medical Office School program that allows direct-entry from high school.

Monday, 12:00-12:30 pm StFX University September 18 Room 51 Nova Scotia Alberta

Tuesday, 12:10-12:40 pm Dalhousie University September 19 Room 51 Nova Scotia, Alberta

Thursday, 3:45-4:15 pm University of Alberta September 21 Room 51 Edmonton and Camrose, Alberta

Friday, 1:30-2:30 pm Scottish Universities: September 22 Location TBA Representatives from a few different Scottish universities will be here to talk about studying in Scotland.

Monday, 12:00-12:30 pm University of New Brunswick September 25 Room 51 Fredericton and Saint John, Nova Scotia

Wednesday, 3:45-4:15 pm Queen’s University September 27 Room 51 Kingston, Ontario

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Tuesday, 12:10-12:40 pm University of Toronto October 10 Room 51 Toronto, Scarborough, and Mississauga, Ontario

Monday, 12:00-12:15 pm Acadia University October 16 Room 51 Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Tuesday, 12:10-12:40 pm University of Calgary October 17 Room 51 Calgary, Alberta

Thursday, 3:45-4:15 pm Ivey Business School at Western – London, Ontario: October 19 Room 51 The 2+2 program structure of the Ivey HBA offers the opportunity to explore two years of any field before specializing in business.

Monday, 12:00-12:35 pm University of Saskatchewan November 6 Room 51 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Tuesday, 12:00-12:35 pm UBC November 14 Room 51 Vancouver and Kelowna, British Columbia

OUT OF PROVINCE UNIVERSITY FAIR On Friday, October 27 from 10:00 am-12:00 noon in the gym, representatives from universities across the country will be here to share information about their programs.

UNIVERSITY PLANNING PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS Grades 11 and 12 Parents: Tuesday, October 17 at 7:00 pm in the C.A. Smith Arts Centre (theatre). All Grades 11 and 12 parents are encouraged to attend. Grades 9 and 10 Parents: Tuesday, January 23 at 7:00 pm in the C.A. Smith Arts Centre (theatre). All Grades 9 and 10 parents are encouraged to attend.

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UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY Please note, the information below is provided for information only. These are not STS sponsored events and, as such, there will be no STS supervision provided.

Study & Go Abroad Fair (Saturday, September 23 from 12:00 noon - 5:00 pm) - Don’t miss this opportunity to start planning to study abroad. Learn about university and college programs, scholarships, travel and volunteer opportunities in over 100 countries worldwide. For more information, go to: http://www.studyandgoabroad.com/calgary/

An Introduction to the Ivy League and Stanford (Wednesday, October 18 at 7:00 pm) - Admission officers from Brown, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, Stanford, and Yale will address issues of particular concern to students applying from Canada. Topics to be covered include: academic programs, admission policies, student life, costs and financial aid. There will be a general question and answer period as well as an opportunity to speak with individual representatives. For more information and to register, go to: https://key.admissions.upenn.edu/register/calgary2017

UNIVERSITY SEARCH TOOLS Canadian Universities: http://www.universitystudy.ca/search-programs/ American Universities: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search/ UK Universities: http://search.ucas.com/

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WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS STS has a new blog! Visit https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/blog/ for stories and what is happening on campus. Be sure to bookmark this page! In addition to the blog, here are some highlights this week:

GRADE 10 ORIENTATION CAMP This week on Monday and Tuesday, all the Grade 10 classes attended Camp Chief Hector for the annual Grade 10 Orientation Camp. They participated in several activities including, Minute-to-Win-It games, a high ropes course, hiking, and The Amazing Race. These activities were led by the YMCA staff, STS Prefects, and teachers. While at camp, the students were encouraged to get to know one another and create new relationships with their peers. Additionally, Grade 10 students learned about what to expect in Senior School with presentations from Mr. Julian and the Prefects. Overall, this year’s Grade 10 camp was a great success and lots of fun!

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PYP INQUIRY UNIT: OUR WORLD ROCKS! The Grade 3s have been busy collecting, sorting, and observing various rocks and minerals. Making their own rock or mineral out of plasticine, and then slicing it open enabled them to gain a better understanding of the differences between rocks and minerals and the various types of rocks. All that learning was also a lot of fun!

32nd ANNUAL TERRY FOX RUN – CANADA 150 The 32nd annual Terry Fox Run at STS to support cancer research was held on Friday, September 15, 2017. This year’s them was Canada 150. Students, staff, and parents were dressed in red and to all things Canadian to show their spirit. Donations can still be made at www.terryfox.ca/StrathconaTweedsmuir.

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GRADE 1s CHOOSING WHERE THEY LEARN BEST The Grade 1s are getting used to the idea of learning studios so that the transition to the new facilities will be a smooth one. Grade 1 students have two learning studios and a few breakout spaces with a variety of flexible seating areas to choose from. We are giving students the opportunity to take responsibility over their learning by choosing where they learn best. They are quickly learning whether they prefer to be at a desk, on the carpet, or in a quiet corner.

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