PICKERING COLLEGE SUMMER 2013 thePIL LARS DARE TO DREAM 2 table of contents Head Shots 4 Amanda Lupo: From Student to Teacher 6 No Choice But to Become an Artist: The Dennis Burton Story 8 Student Life 10 Residence Life 20 Class of 2013 21 Project-Based Learning in the Middle School 24 Planning for the Future: PC’s Strategic Plan 26 Alumni News 28 Alumni Reunions 32 Passings 34 Three Cheers for Our Talented PC Volunteers 36 PCA Update 37 Upcoming Events 38 On display at the 9th Annual Town of Newmarket Art Exhibit Left: "Colour My House" by Mairead Mulroy, Winner, Acrylics Above: "Nature’s True Colours" by Matt Marchese, Honorable Mention, Acrylics 3 "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly…” –Theodore Roosevelt 4 Head Shots Dare to Dream! Taken at face value, these days the statement almost seems cliché. We are reminded…encouraged…cajoled…almost every moment of every day, and often very loudly, to “follow our passion” or “to take a risk”. The media and an assortment of advertisers for any number of products, challenge us to “step outside ourselves” and “break the rules”. Invariably the images seem to correspond with jumping off cliffs, skiing down mountainsides, skating on a half-pipe, or kayaking through whitewater. But daring to dream is, in fact, a far more personal, far more self- consciously courageous act. For daring to dream is, in reality, about listening to your inner hopes and aspirations and speaking to them publically, in word and in deed, which means risking revealing what is truly important to you. And when you expose yourself in that way, you are at your most vulnerable: embarrassment, shame, humiliation are all incredibly powerful emotions that lead us to avoid daring to dream. In fact, “the critic” mentioned in Roosevelt’s quote often is the one who counts most, who speaks loudest, who wounds far deeper than a broken bone or bruised muscle. So we hesitate to dare to dream greatly and in the process miss the potential for a life of fulfilment and purpose. Often I think that people go around jumping off things to take a risk because they are hesitant to look inward and really consider that which exists in their heart, mind and soul. When we take the time to actually take that perspective, those become the moments that ultimately come to define our lives; and the results last longer and impact deeper than the momentary rush of adrenaline that comes with a physical risk. I believe we encourage our students at Pickering to dare to dream; I see evidence of it in the pages of this issue of The Pillars and I am proud of those who have done so. But I know it is not easy to really express your dreams, to put yourself on the line, to speak up for that in which you most believe, to commit your life to a passion that others may think you are silly to do. Yet only those who truly dare to dream can truly make a difference in this world; in fact those are the only people who have. Peter Sturrup, Headmaster 5 FROM STUDENT AMANDA LUPO ’05 FULFILLS HER LIFELONG DREAM at PC Amanda Lupo’s first visit to Pickering she sought the help and guidance of Kim REACHING HER GOAL College was at Christmastime, 2000. Bartlett or Kelly Garner. In September 2012 Amanda fulfilled her Other than the Pillars and the rest of lifelong dream, becoming the Grade 6 the beautiful campus, the characteristic PURSUING HER PASSION teacher at Pickering College as well as the 12-year-old noticed was the warm From age seven Amanda knew that she coaching U12 co-ed soccer and girls’ U12 and welcoming atmosphere that prevails wanted to be a teacher when she grew volleyball. Despite this being her first year here, which she hadn’t noticed at the up. She liked being around children as a full time teacher, you would never other independent schools she had vis- and worked well with them, spend- guess she was new when she is described ited. She never felt intimidated by fellow ing six summers as a camp counselor by some of her students as: “friendly, students or faculty. To this day, she states at King Day Camp. Upon graduating modern, easy to talk to, always available “I love it here”, which has led her back from Pickering College in 2005 as an for extra help”, and by more than one as to Pickering College in various capacities. Ontario Scholar, she chose to attend the simply “awesome”. University of Guelph, earning her B.A. in THE EARLY YEARS Applied Science. In her third and fourth Highlights of her 20 students’ academic Her PC experience began in September years she took courses in Family and year included project-based learning such 2001, in Grade 8 after moving to the area Youth Counselling, as well as Child Life. as the Science unit on Air and Flight, as from Markham and attending Montessori She went on to attend teachers’ college well as the unit on Electricity, because schools. She fondly remembers her first at Nipissing University in North Bay, pur- it allowed them to interactively share teachers: Norm Colefield, Kelly Garner and suing her childhood dream of becoming their learning and understanding with Catherine Farquhar. She kept many of the a teacher. Her placements were with a the Grade 2 class. Her class also appreci- same classmates when she transitioned Grade 5/6 and a Grade 2/3 class, and she ates her lively and modern teaching style, into the Senior School the following year to also worked as a tutor. That March break colourful classroom reflecting the hard begin Grade 9. The curriculum was “chal- she revisited her role as a camp counselor work of the class, and their goldfish Bruce. lenging but manageable”, she said, and felt at a Tim Hortons Foundation Camp in well prepared for the transition by her year Parry Sound. TEACHING VALUES WITH STYLE in Grade 8. The same school environment During the early weeks of school, she and buildings of the Junior School to Senior BACK TO PC worked with her Grade 6 class to estab- School also eased her transition. From Following her graduation from Nipissing lish behavioural and academic guidelines, contributing to the yearbook to juggling, she returned to PC where she worked outlining expectations and responsibili- Amanda took part in many of the varied as an Associate Faculty (AF). This job ties as a group for the year. Her approach co-curricular activities offered by PC and appeals to many young people who are proved successful as one student hap- was especially enthusiastic about athletics. either considering teachers’ college, or pily proclaimed “We are family!” She who have recently graduated and wish stresses the importance of respect and Amanda spent much of her high school to gain practical teaching experience. responsibility for their belongings and years playing for the school’s athletic Unlike other teaching positions, Associate their actions. They are also expected to teams, soccer particularly but also track Faculty are required to live in residence be friendly and helpful with visitors. Her and field. In 2003 she played for the U15 and become fully involved in campus life. class feels collectively that this has been championship soccer team and in Grade This was an eye opening experience for their best year ever and they are looking 12 she served on the Athletic Council and her since she had only attended PC as a forward without hesitation to Grade 7. Roland Furlan was her advisor. day student, but had friends who were Further compliments include “funny”, in boarding. During her first year as an “easy to be around”, “patient” and “uses Throughout her high school years at AF she stayed at Firth House, New House technology like the iPads”. Her students PC the Senior School lockers and desks in her second. After viewing campus find her approachable, sympathetic, and, were in New House—the Student Lounge life from the “other side”, she suddenly most importantly,“ she makes climbing to hadn’t been built yet. She can also recall gained a teacher’s perspective along with the third floor worthwhile!” the initial construction of Egan House and a full understanding of boarding life. She when the servery was part of the Dining originally found it unusual to call her UPHOLDING PC VALUES Hall. There have been many changes former teachers by their first names but Her first impressions of Pickering College, over the last decade. is adjusting to that now. During the first the kind, welcoming atmosphere that year as an AF Amanda also coached the first attracted her to the school remain She has fond memories of Horizons Day, U14 soccer team, leading them to win with her and she stresses the importance a day where students pick an elective the championships.