Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Another Successful Robotics Campaign at Western.


Robotics at Western has emerged as a flagship program at the Toronto District School Board. Consider the facts:




·    
      The word is getting out that our Robotics Program is flourishing – This chart shows how the program has expanded the past 4 years. The number of students in the graph represent the number of grade 8’s entering Western into the reserved Robotics pathway.
    
      The team is presently gearing up for a Skilled Trades Showcase promoting Robotics to elementary students. Our presentations are well received, getting the highest ranking from  elementary students as per the T.D.S.B. Research and Data Collection Department. 
     
      Great engineering and innovation happens at Western!




Wednesday, May 8, 2013

SUMMER SCHOOL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN


TDSB SUMMER SCHOOL – REGISTRATION IS OPEN!!


MAKE AN APPOINTMENT IN GUIDANCE TO REGISTER

FOR A LIST OF SCHOOL LOCATIONS CHECK THE WEBSITE http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=200&menuid=1288&pageid=954

DATES AND TIMES:

• Tuesday, July 2 - Friday, July 26

• Monday - Friday

• Full Credit Courses: 8:45 am -3:30 pm

• Remedial/Transfer/Tutoring: 8:45 - 11:45 am / 12:30 - 3:30 pm

Students will be assigned to either the morning or afternoon session

FULL CREDIT COURSES
Most full credit courses are open to all students who have earned 12 credits, with the pre-requisite, by June 28, 2013.

Please note that for ENG 4U1 and OSSLC students must have earned 26 or more credits by June 28, 2013.

REMEDIAL COURSES
Remedial courses are for students who completed the course during the school year and earned a final mark of at least 35 percent, but less than 50 percent.

MATH TRANSFER:
The Math Transfer course for students who successfully completed Grade 9 Applied Math.

Please note: Courses are not guaranteed to run and locations may change. Please check the website between June 30 and July 1 to confirm final course offerings and locations.

New this year! Tutorial Help FOR GRADE 9 AND 10 MATH AND ENGLISH

We are thrilled to be offering tutorial help this summer. Students will benefit from small class instruction with a qualified teacher.

Students can attend tutoring from a single week, or up to four weeks. Students are encouraged to bring work they completed during the school year to address specific areas for improvement. TDSB students must register through their home school.



Monday, May 6, 2013

Best in Ontario, #2 in Canada and 34th in the World!


Congratulations to Connor McBrine-Ellis (team captain) and Ethan Waldie for their excellent standing at the World Championships of Computer Networking. In preliminary events they ranked #2 in Ontario - qualifying Connor and Ethan for the World Class Championship broadcast live over the Internet and hosted by CISCO.

On Friday May 3rd at the U.S. and Canada Theater Finale, they were up against thousands of elite networking students from all over the globe. Our boys kicked it up a notch and competed with valor during the two hour exam (a combination of theory and practical assessment). Western Tech's final ranking was 1st in Ontario, 2nd in Canada and 34th in the World - North America Division. Congratulations Connor and Ethan! ... and congratulations to Jesse Noordegraaf and Bradley Tenbrinke from British Columbia who were the #1 ranked Canadian team. 

An historical footnote: 
Two years ago we competed at the same competition. David Au and Henry Tieu ranked 24th in the World. David is at U of Waterloo doing a coop placement at Zynga and Henry is at U of Toronto in Life Sciences. 


So you want to know what Connor and Ethan do in their elective classes   - Computer Networking  (TEN) and Engineering Robotics (TEJ)? Connor was an instrumental part of the in-house online course selection software development team and is now programming enhancements to our school website.

At Western we encourage students to innovate and develop skills as they apply science to solve real world problems . Connor is following in the footsteps of another Western Tech graduate who pioneered our first "in-house developed" course selection software. That student, Gregory Lever-Fraser was just hired by Google (our third alumni to be plucked across the border by the information technology powerhouse) and is on his way to San Francisco where he promises to spread the news regarding the hot-bed of innovation happening right here at 125 Evelyn Crescent Toronto Canada! 

Not to be outdone, Ethan is working on a prototype for a 64 node supercomputer utilizing proper parallel processing algorithms. For this project we are looking to secure funding from a few sources, one of which is the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. Ethan is researching, programming and contributing to the grant proposal writing team. Fortunately, Connor has graciously offered to write an administrative console for the prototype taking one responsibility off Ethan's plate. 



You’ll have the opportunity to read more on both of these projects in June as the masterful and innovative pieces of engineering unfold. 

Well done Western Tech Computer Networking students.

Friday, April 19, 2013

Cutting Style


Western’s co-op student, Heather, is fast-tracking her goal to become a hairstylist.  After completing many of her required high school credits, Heather registered as a full time co-op student. She wanted to gain experience in the working world.   Her teacher, Ms. Vrh,  told her about the Hairstyling OYAP program that would enable her to complete her level 1 training while earning co-op credits towards her graduation diploma.  Heather  applied for and was accepted into the program (only 8 high school students were accepted across the GTA).  She is currently completing her level 1 training and getting hands-on experience at Gossips Hairsytlists Inc. under the  guidance of owner Mary MacDonald.   

It's Western's link to the business community and the working world that give our students an advantage.  Thank you Mary for providing such a wonderful and positive  learning opportunity. Business people like you, working with students like Heather, are helping to make Western a great place to learn. 

Can your business offer a co-op placement to a Western Tech student? Contact Ms Vrh at 393-0500 or through this website. We're always happy to hear from businesses abroad and in the community.   

Read the SNAP! article here.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Star player’s final tournament marks end of hoops era at Lakehead University


Arab Spring came to Thunder Bay, Ont., about three years before it reached the shores of North Africa. It came in the form of a solemn-faced basketball player with roots in Cairo and the eyes and passion (not to mention the serenity and courage) of a Saladin warrior.

Five years have passed since 20-year-old Yoosrie Salhia, a six-foot-six post player, left the rough streets of Parkdale in west Toronto and came north to tiny Lakehead University to join what was probably the feeblest university basketball program in the country. During the previous season the audaciously named Thunderwolves had won just one game (by one point) and lost 30 (often by as much as 30 points).
Thunder Bay, it should be noted, has (in the words of the old joke) about 10 months of winter and two of tough sledding.   

“I definitely had to do some adjusting,” says Salhia, who had never been north of Lake Simcoe and hated cold weather (“I’m Egyptian!” he laughs.) More significantly, he had never played on a losing team.
And would not play on one for long.
Coach Scott Morrison had never seen Salhia on the court — not even on video — when the freshman arrived at the northern university after a high school career at Western Tech in Toronto and a year at Weatherford Junior College in Texas, where he never played a game because of injuries.

To read the entire article written by Charlie Wilkins visit The Toronto Star

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

MORE AWARDS AND SCHOLARSHIPS

MERIT AWARD BURSARY IS ALMOST DUE!!

The Merit Award Bursary is due to Ms. Morrison in Guidance on Thursday, March 28th.  For application information and criteria go to  http://meritaward.ca


2013 Youth Civic Leadership Award

Criteria:  leadership and community involvement, innovative, visionary, creative
Deadline:  March 31, 2013
Application form:  www.rotarytoronto.com  or see Ms. Morrison in Guidance


2013 Karthiha Guruparan and Bill Winsor Scholarships

Criteria:  Academically gifted, well-rounded, pursuing undergrad program in commerce/finance/business degree/diploma at recognized post-secondary institution. 
Amount:  $6,000.00 for one male and one female applicant
Deadline:  April 26, 2013
Application form:  www.cst.org

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Spring Orientation



Guidance will be hosting its annual Spring Orientation for all incoming grade 9 students and their parents during the week of April 22nd.  A letter of invitation will be mailed out during the week of March 18th. Please contact the guidance at 416 393-0500 ext. 20040 to book your appointment.

College Degree Panel


On Friday March 22nd representatives from 5 colleges will provide a presentation on the many degree programs offered at their College. Grade 11 and 12 University bound students are welcome to attend. The presentation will take place in room 273 at 10:00am.


Friday, February 22, 2013

New Scholarship/Award Opportunities

1. Hospitality Scholarships for College or University

Criteria:
Attending a college or university program in culinary, hotel, tourism, food & beverage, hospitality or resort management, catering management

Deadline: May 17, 2013

2. Merit Award Bursary
($500.00 awards for those staying in school, or $750/$2000 for those going to post-secondary))

Criteria:
Grade 11 or 12 student returning to school in Sept. in grade 12 or post-secondary education or apprenticeship, demonstrated extra-curricular/volunteerism in the school/community. Personal challenges or obstacles that you have overcome, including financial circumstances, will be considered.

Deadline: March 29, 2013 to Guidance Department

rit Award Application Link
3. Ryerson University National Entrance Scholarships

Criteria:
Applying to Ryerson in Sept., many different Scholarships available – check the site for criteria specifics

Deadline: April 2013

Application Link
4.  Retail Council of Canada Scholarship

Criteria:
Students entering a retail or business related program at college or university in Sept. who are working at least part-time in retail

Deadline: March 30, 2013

ication Link
5. York University Entrance Scholarships

Criteria:
Applying to York for Sept., many different Scholarships available – check the site for more details

Deadline: Some deadlines are Feb.1 and some are April 1

Application Link
6.  Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers 2013 National Scholarship Program

Criteria:
Pursuing a post-secondary program related to the food industry, must get a CFIG store to sponsor them. Up to 6,000.00 scholarship opportunity

Deadline: May 31, 2013

Application Link 
7. Investing in our Diversity Scholarship

Criteria:
Living in Toronto Community Housing or subsidized housing, applying to a post-secondary program.

Deadline: March 21, 2013

Application Link




Sunday, February 3, 2013

ROBOTICS season is underway ...

Western Technical-Commercial School students participate in the highest level of robotics competition offered by FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). Our students team up with the world’s best technology companies to build the most impressive robots you’ve ever seen. Built from scratch in only 6 weeks, these 5 foot tall, 140 pound robots compete in high intensity robo-sports. With bragging rights at stake for schools and the companies that support them, robotics takes on a pro-sports experience. Watch the best of the best in robotics come out to play.


Students who participate will get to:

  • Learn from professional engineers; 
  • Build and compete with a robot of their own design; 
  • Learn and use sophisticated software and hardware; 
  • Compete and cooperate in alliances and tournaments; 
  • Earn a place in the World Championship; 
  • and Qualify for over $16 million in college scholarships


“The varsity sport for the mind,” FRC combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. Under strict rules, limited resources, and time limits, teams of 15 students or more are challenged to raise funds, design a team “brand,” hone teamwork skills, and build and program robots to perform prescribed tasks against a field of competitors. It’s as close to “real-world engineering” as a student can get.


Join the fun by coming to see Mr. Halling in room 274 or by speaking with any WARP7 team member.

Literacy for Life


Literacy is a fundamental life skill that is essential for young people if they are to achieve success in life. Students who have well-developed reading and writing skills will be better prepared not only for their future educational careers but also for the world of work. A greater focus on literacy means more opportunities for our students.

In Grade 10, students take the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), which measures whether or not they are meeting the minimum standard for literacy across all subjects up to the end of Grade 9.

Feb 12th - Practice literacy test
March 25th to 28th - Literacy test preparation workshops

Resources:

Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Resources
Sample Test Booklet 2
Sample Test Booklet 2
Getting Ready Guide

Monday, January 21, 2013

ART-BOTS @ WESTERN!


Grade 9 students enrolled in Western Technical-Commercial School’s Enriched/Gifted, CyberARTS, and Robotics programs participated in a fun and  innovative pre-holiday learning workshop this December 17th -- making robots that draw.

The three specialized programs joined forces to bring in visual artist Kristen Keller, who assisted students in designing artistic robots from recycled materials. The workshop, which combines the science of robotics with the creativity of art, provided a unique and engaging forum in which the students were able to build simple kinetic machines, and with them created a collaborative piece of art.

 
The event will be featured on a January edition of Rogers TV’s High School Rush. 

Stay tuned for details!





Monday, November 26, 2012

Specialized Programs at Western



CyberARTS is an Art & Design Program focusing on Visual Communication. We integrate technology and traditional fine arts with academic subjects to create a unique program of high-level knowledge with employable and transferable skills. CyberARTS is a Specialized High Skills Major and its curriculum focuses on the student’s development as an independent learner and creative/critical thinker. All activities are student-centred and project driven.
Application - CyberARTS

The Engineering Robotics Program @ WTCS builds on a long history of excellence and success. Combined with a world class facility, exciting projects, industry certified instructors, extracurricular competitions and delivered through the new Ministry of Education’s Specialized High Skills Major Program, your daughter or son will get an engineering foundation not available at any other high school in the GTA. Robotics is the new standard for high tech design and manufacture with opportunities in industries ranging from aerospace to medical to zoology.
Application - Engineering Robotics

The Enriched/Gifted Program fosters critical thinking, academic challenge, cross-curricular collaboration, and community leadership. Students enhance their intellectual growth and social development through cooperative inquiry, specialized courses and technological exploration in an environment that fosters creativity and nurtures curiousity. Involvement in diverse learning situations and groups prepares students for exemplary achievement at the post-secondary level. Students emerge from the program with well-rounded and real world skills and knowledge.
Application - Gifted
Application - Enriched


The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) is an Ontario designation that allows students to focus on a career path that matches their individual skills and interests. Enriched/Gifted students at WTCS are encouraged to enroll in one of our SHSMs. These students learn with industry standard equipment and instructors who have worked directly in the field. They also experience on the job training with employers at skills training centres and have the opportunity to enroll in up to two post secondary courses with no tuition costs. Students who complete the SHSM requirements will graduate with a red seal on their diploma. This indicates a universal provincial designation of a higher level of achievement to all post secondary schools no matter what program the student may choose to pursue. For more information go to: More Student Success

Come experience our Specialized Program night - Wednesday November 28th at 7pm

Friday, November 23, 2012

Honours Celebration:

On Thursday November 8th, Western celebrated the outstanding academic achievement of our students. Thirty-eight students received several awards some of which included money. We also celebrated all the students in grades 9-12 who were on the honour roll meaning they received an overall average of 75% or greater in the 2011-2012 school year. Staff, students and parents enjoyed participating in the ceremony as over 200 students received these certificates honouring their achievements. And the cakes were delicious! 

College and University Applicants


College Applicants:
Students wishing to attend College in the fall of 2013 should apply on or before Feb.1st, 2013. Students must apply online at www.ontariocolleges.ca
Students requiring any information and/or assistance with their on line application should make an appointment with Ms. Madeira, in the guidance office.

University Applicants:
Western hosted a very successful University Fair on the afternoon of Thursday, November 1st for our grade 11 and 12 students. Representatives from 16 Universities were on hand to answer student inquiries about their various programs. The Ontario University Application Centre will soon be open for business - the deadline for students to submit their application is Wednesday, January 16th, 2013. Students requiring assistance with their applications should make a guidance appointment with Mr. Amadio.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

The School Newspaper In Virtual Format


     It took a ton of work, but the Semester 1 Writer's Craft class has pulled it off. The latest edition of Western's Newspaper, "The Hidden Agenda" is now ready for print.
     The paper was designed by Stephen Quach using the schools latest InDesign software. A program that is suitable for all commercial and industrial publishing. "It was certainly above anything I've ever used," said Mr. Bailey the Writer's Craft teacher. "I'm not quite sure how we would have made our publishing deadline without Steven's expertise."
     Creating a school newspaper is just one of the many assignments for the Writer's Craft class. Once the final editing touches are complete the paper is relayed to the TDSB print shop. It should be out within the next week. If you'd like to get a look at the virtual addition, follow the link below.
     This week the Writer's Craft students are sitting in the Director's Chair. They've just completed a three week workshop on script writing for short films. Now they're filming their short scripts... Stay tuned for the WTCS Short Film Festival. It's coming to a classroom near you.

Link to a pdf version of the school newspaper - "The Hidden Agenda"

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Your Job Is To Joust!: A Coop Placement With A Twist

Jousting at Medieval Times


      Meet Alannah. She's one of Western Tech's many successful co-op students. Alannah was recently selected for the position of Events Co-ordinator Assistant at "Medieval Times" a dinner theatre in the West end of Toronto that tries to re-capture the complete experience of eating, drinking and jousting in the 15th century.
    The position of Events Co-ordinator Assistant was a very difficult one to win and Alannah had to compete against a  number of co-op students from other schools in Toronto. Through determination and hard work, she won. Now, she is gaining valuable experience in both preparation and execution of VIP nights and school matinee performances. Not only does she collect surveys, compile data, and prepare gift bags but she also greets guests in  medieval costume prompting many guests to ask to take their picture with her. It's an experience with a real twist of excitement and fun. How'd you like to start off your day dressing up as a medieval knight?



The Grand Tour of Learning At Western Tech

      "Welcome to the Grand Tour of learning at Western Tech," is how the Student Leader started off her grade eight orientation for prospective students to WTCS. "It's a pleasure to serve you, and I'm happy to be your guide."
     On Tuesday November 13th, over 800 grade 8s were in the building to investigate the programs and facilities that Western offers. Western receives students from many different elementary schools in the neighbourhood such as Runnymede, Swansea, Annette, Brock, Carlton Village, Essex, Parkdale and High Park Alternative School. In fact, almost any student from anywhere in the city can choose to study here, and many do.

      The tours are organized and run through Western's Guidance Department and Leadership classes and are meant to highlight all the possible options for courses and learning a student has at WTCS. Western has one of the widest program selections of any high school in the TDSB. We offer almost every type of program imaginable:  from ESL to Gifted/Enriched Learning; from Robotics, to Food Technologies; from Coop Education to French and Spanish.  And that's what makes it such a special place.

          The Robotics and Mechanical Engineering classes presented futuristic "quadracopters" that hovered over the eastern end of the cafeteria. The Food Technologies classes presented baked goods and cookies and discussed the importance of nutrition in maintaining health and weight, and the Physics Department showed how simple and ingenious Da Vinci's invention of the "camera obsura" really was.
     "We're proud of our building and we're proud of the students and teachers in it," said a beaming Principal Ms Virginia Pang. "We want to let the community and the whole city know that Western really is the place to be, and we'd be delighted if they chose to send their child to learn here. This is a very special place."
       Our Student Leader was right. The day really was "The Grand Tour of (Western) Learning."

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

College Pathways


The Guidance Department will be hosting a College Fair on Thursday Oct.18th from 1:30- 2:30 in the Cafeteria. Representatives from George Brown, Centennial, Seneca, Humber and Sheridan will present information about the many programs offered at their school. This is an excellent opportunity for students to learn about each College, their specialized areas of study, facilities and the general College experience. This fair is open to all grade 11 and 12 students.
The Ontario College Information Fair will take place on Tuesday Oct. 25th from 10:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. There will be display booths for the colleges, as well as numerous external agencies and professional associations. In addition to the display booths, there will be information sessions scheduled throughout the day including in-depth presentations on financial aid. 

Monday, November 5, 2012

Western Students Get Real Medical Engineering Experience



Three Western Technical-Commercial students qualified to compete at this years MedTech Challenge. The program, created to inspire high school students to pursue education opportunities in biomedicine and engineering, is being held at The Hospital for Sick Kids in Toronto. Hosted by the Centre for Image Guided Innovation and Therapeutic Intervention in partnership with Logics Academy and Kids Science, the six week program gives 24 students from across Ontario the opportunity to utilizes robotics and medical tools, supplementary equipment and a medically focused robotics curriculum to design and develop a creative solution to perform a benign tumor craniotomy procedure on phantom pediatric-sized skulls, gelatin-based brain models and grapes (representing tumors).




On the final day, teams will showcase their working
prototype along with a presentation that discusses design rationale, clinical workflow with their robotic tooling, procedure efficacy (in terms of precision and speed) as well as the benefits of their design, challenges they faced and future improvements they would like to make.The teams of 4 are ultimately judged by a panel of engineers and surgeons.



Good luck WanQi, Mohamed and Fernando.

Thursday, November 1, 2012

A Great Partnership: Student Teachers At Western Tech

A Brief Interview with Ms. Harris

by Koji Umezawa

There’s always been something special about “student teachers”. They are similar to "regular teachers" in the sense that they teach us things and give us marks, but it is easier to socialize with them because they don’t have the stigma of being our regular teachers. So it was a pleasant surprise for me today when I came to school to find a student teacher in my Writer’s Craft Class. Ms. Harris  from OISE at the University of Toronto is the student teacher for Mr. Bailey’s Writer’s Craft class, and was kind enough to speak with me. 

At the time of the interview, she had only been here for 2 days, but she was impressed by what she had seen of the staff and students, “I was surprised, all of the students were well-behaved, to be honest. I’ve worked in other schools where thats not the case. I was expecting some more drama, so that’s a good thing.”

Ms. Harris will be teaching a unit in Writer’s Craft on script writing, a subject she is very excited to be teaching: “I’m really passionate about that because I did a lot of film in my life experience. I took some courses like theatre, and some George Brown courses,” she said with enthusiasm. She is also excited to be working with senior students, because she has never worked with them before.

Ms. Harris will be sitting in on all of the Writer Craft classes, so students can expect to have a very passionate and attentive student teacher, who will be looking to gain as much insight out of these next few weeks as possible, “My thing is student engagement, trying to use what you’re teaching to engage the students and get feedback from them and make the classroom more democratic. I'd like, to open the class up and have some variety. I want to get some of the students'  ideas and input.”

The student teachers are with us for the next four weeks and will be helping students personally with their work as well as teaching in front of the whole class. I, for one, am looking forward to being taught by one of the new fresh faces around the school. It's a great break from the regular routine.


Tuesday, October 30, 2012

A Horrifying Hallowe'en Horoscope

Hallowe'en Horoscopes
by Koji Umezawa

Aries March 21 - April 19

Your adventurous attitude makes you try new experiences to broaden your mind. You will make it your life goal to witness something majestic, so you decide to climb mount everest. You make it to the top, But you manage to lose all your supplies in an avalanche on the way down and you freeze to death. Good job.

Taurus April 20 - May 20

You like to stay isolated from the pack. So much so that one day when you see a person you have a crush on approach you, you panic and try to run across the street. But run into the path of a bus and get run over. Your crush moves on.

Gemini May 21 - June 20

You have a very adventurous attitude. One day, you decide to take a shortcut through an alley on the way home. You witness the mafia killing a man, and before you can escape, they get a look at your face. They break into your house as you try to pack up your things, and then strap cement you your feet and throw you in the river. They then use their influence to get the police to close the case.

Cancer June 21 - July 22

You are always kind to your friends and family, but cannot deal with betrayal. One day, you see your significant other cheating on you. This drives you insane and you go on a murderous rampage, killing students from your school, until you get to your adulterous lover, who is backed into a corner. You lift your chainsaw above your head, but as you take a step forward you slip and the chainsaw cuts you in half.

Leo June 23 - August 22

You are very fortunate to have the life you have. You are very polite to others, but you become very shy around people you have feelings for. One day, you ask your crush out on a date, but you get shot down. You are so depressed that you start walking alone at night, in the rain. You approach some cement stairs and, not prepared for how slippery they are, slip and break your neck. You get a full page in the yearbook.

Virgo August 23 - September 22

You can be very mean to others if you are not in a good mood. On one of such bad days, You bump into a kid holding a balloon, causing him to let go. As the balloon floats away, you tell the kid to get over it and to stop crying like a sissy. Later that day you are driving along with your friends when you get hit by a truck. You are pinned, upside down in the car and can smell gasoline, you see that same kid whose balloon you lost and beg for help, but he tells you to stop crying like a sissy. The kid walks away as your car goes up in flames.

Libra September 23 - October 22

You believe in true love, much to the chagrin of your peers. One day, they decide to play a prank on you, by waiting for you to present a love poem to the class, and then drop a can of red paint on you. Unfortunately, one of them did not have a good hold of the paint can, and it drops straight on your head. You fumble around with a massive gash on your head until you lose your balance next to an open window and fall to your death.

Scorpio October 23 - November 21

You are a natural born leader, but have a problem with authority. One day, you are doing some gardening work in a park when you get into an argument with your boss. It turns violent and you shove him. He gets angry and shoves you back harder, but you slip and fall backwards into a woodchipper, spreading small bits of you all over a field. The city decides to wait until it rains to wash your remains away.

Sagittarius November 22 - December 21

You are very adventurous and decide to take a vacation to south america. You are lucky enough to get an emergency exit seat so you enjoy the extra leg room. Suddenly, the planes engines cut out and the plane starts falling; a fire also starts and the plane is ready to blow. Once the plane lands in the water, you are too scared to uphold your responsibility of opening the emergency exit door, and the plane blows up with everyone inside. You make the front page.

Capricorn December 22 - January 19

You are a very hard worker but like to play around too. One day during winter break, after finishing up at school, you decide to head into a forest with a bunch of friends to see who can cut down the biggest pine tree. You all find your own trees and start cutting them down. Unfortunately, you weren’t paying attention to your surroundings, and someone was cutting down a tree directly behind you. You turn around just in time to see the tree crush you.

Aquarius January 20 - February 18

You are always looking to find your own way in life. One day, you decide to start making some crystals to sell as paper weights at school. You have your chemistry set all lined up, but you accidently used the wrong chemicals and end up producing some toxic gas. Tragically, your room isn’t ventilated resulting in you choking to death.

Pisces February 19 - March 20

You have trouble making tough decisions. One day you are driving along on a small, one lane country road, when suddenly, you see a drunk driver in a pickup truck heading in the opposite direction. Your family is screaming at you to get out of the way, but you can’t decide whether to turn left or right. By the time you make up your mind, the truck is already pummeling your car, and you get crushed. The correct answer was left.

HAPPY HALLOWE'EN EVERYONE - HAVE FUN, BE SAFE AND BE CAREFUL!!





Monday, October 29, 2012

We Create Change at Western!

WE CREATE CHANGE CAMPAIGN


Did you know that $25 will provide a person with clean water for life?

Did you know that 1,000,000,000 live without access to clean water worldwide?

That is why WTCS had decided to join the Free the Children campaign to collect pennies. Each home form has a bag that will hold $25. Imagine how many people we could provide with clean water! Please contribute whatever pennies you have sitting around in piggy banks, in drawers or on the floor. If you can fill a bag yourself that is even better! This is the largest penny drive to ever be held in Canada so let’s make it the largest ever to be held at Western Technical Commercial School! Bring those pennies Western!

Monday, October 22, 2012

A Commencement Ceremony to Cherish and Remember



The The room was packed and an expectant hush fell over the auditorium as over 150 graduates entered to start  their graduation ceremony. This was the moment that so many parents, teachers, administrators and especially  students were waiting for - commencement.

The ceremony was graciously hosted by Vice Principal Ross Edmunds with new Principal,  Virginia Pang, offering the opening address. The graduates were also warmly welcomed by Superintendent Curtis Ennes. Thusarshan Vikneswaran a well-loved , highly committed and involved Western graduate,  gave a thoughtful and inspiring Valedictory Address.




What was amazing (as always) with these WTCS graduates, was the career paths they have chosen.  Almost every field was represented. There were future plumbers, Linguists, Engineers, Computer Scientists, Car Detailers, Graphic Designers, Food Technologists, and students of Business, Japanese and Astro-physics. Western grads are attending some of the best colleges and universities in the country. Many were at the University of Toronto, McGill, Queens, Ryerson, Humber College, George Brown, and Centennial College. This is a budding generation of entrepreneurs, academics and tradesmen, and the ceremony was meant to highlight their  achievements as well as their future goals.  

Like many of the older high schools in the city, Western Tech has one of the most generous scholarship funds in the City of Toronto. This is partly due to the school’s age - the interest on fifty dollars donated 100 years ago turns into a lot of money in 2012.  

The winner of the award for highest academic achievement went to Kaelan Doyle-Myerscough who is currently at McGill University pursuing studies in Astro-physics and Japanese. The newest scholarship was awarded to student Matthew Masa. This was the Peter Cram Memorial Scholarship donated in honour of Peter Cram. Mr. Cram  was one of Western’s most beloved and inspiring new teachers who passed away tragically at the beginning of the school year in a bicycle accident.  In presenting the award, Mr. Neil Langley, the current Curriculum Leader of English, ELL, and Moderns noted that Mr. Cram’s time at Western encompassed the exact period of this year’s graduating class - in essence, he too was graduating with them.  

The ceremony finished with the graduates and parents celebrating their achievements in a much more informal way in the cafeteria where the Food Studies Department headed up by student volunteers with the guidance of teachers Lisa De Rosa, John Kilmartin, and  Tony Pegg served delicious cakes and coffee.
For those of you who were unable to attend the event in person, you may look for elements of it on the Net. In fact, the whole ceremony was broadcast live over the Internet by Western’s very own Tech Department.
Once again the staff and students of Western Technical-Commercial School have demonstrated just what an exceptional school it truly is. Bravo graduates, bravo Western!

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Western Library News


The TDSB has a reading incentive program for all students and staff called ‘Just Read It’.   It is accessed from our website.  When you review a book you get entered in a draw for free books.  Many of our students are participating.  When they do, they get a lolly-pop. Send in your reviews.




The TDSB Virtual Library has many rich, subscription based resources for students in all grades. Within the TDSB firewall, these automatically load from the Virtual Library Homepage. However, at home and in the community, passwords are required.  


Virtual Library Learnmarks are book-marks that provide passwords for all digital products subscribed to on the Virtual Library site.They are designed to be kept near home computers, on refrigerators, bulletin boards and other easily accessible places, in order to be available when students are engaged in learning at home.  Learnmarks are available for all TDSB students, staff and parents from the library.
 





Reminder: The Halloween Book Mark Contest closes Friday October 26th.



Co-op Students in the Library
Sukriti and Vonique – afternoons October 1 - 19

Library Assistant – Monday and Tuesdays through out the year
Courtney Lee Mann from Humber College’s ‘Community and Justice Services’ Program

Library Assistant – October 22 – November 4
Lilnus D’rozario from Seneca College’s Library Technician Program


Quick Links for your convenience: 





Thursday, October 4, 2012

A Place for Leaders And Joiners: Western Tech’s Annual Club Fair



The cafeteria was packed. The room was laid out with tables in a large square and at each table sat a representative of one of the scores of clubs and societies that run at Western Tech. There was the Band club, the Manga club, the Prom committee, The Knitting Club,The Grad Committee, Save the Children Fund, the Ping Pong Club, Robotic Engineering club, and many many more. 

Western’s Annual Club Fair is the place for leaders and joiners to meet. If you have an idea for a new club, you’re a leader, and you’re always welcome at Western. If you want to join a club, then the Annual Club Fair is the place to be. Western also welcomes anyone from the community interested in contributing to our clubs. We’re always open to new ideas, and new possibilities. So if you’re a member of the community and you think you can help out a WTCS club,  give us a shout. Contact our office at 393-0500 with your ideas.  We’ll be more than happy to hear from you!

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

The Answer May Be “Blowin’ In The Wind!”

Congratulations to the following leadership students: Adrian Davies, Sir McMullen, Jenny Vuong and Oliver Whitfield-Smith. They’re part of a special group of Western students who took part in a video montage that will highlight the social, economic and environmental benefits of wind energy in Canada.  The group was filmed and directed by an Ottawa crew from the Canadian Wind Energy Association (CWEA).  The CWAE wanted to get students’ input on why young people think wind energy should be a part of our future energy mix and what the environmental benefits of wind energy might be.  Each of these students participated in the Kids World Youth Energy Festival, hosted at the Brick Works last spring. The video is just another example of Western trying to care for Mother Earth.  The answer may just be,  “Blowin’ In The Wind.”


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Leadership News - It's A New Day On "Moving On Up Day"


Graduating from elementary school to high school is often filled with excitement, happiness, and sometimes fear. On August 28th, incoming grade nine students had their first experience as grade nines on our “Moving on Up Day” at Western Technical Commercial School.  After receiving their timetables, new grade nine students were paired up with senior leaders and student council members who took the students on tours of the school, walked them through their timetables, showed them their lockers and finally led them on an exciting school scavenger hunt.


The morning ended with a pizza lunch that grade nine students shared with their senior mentors, some of their teachers and guidance counselors. It was an exciting way to begin the year. “This is just the type of day I needed,” commented one newly-minted grade nine student. “This school is so huge, that I would have been totally confused.  At least I found out where my classes are going to be on the first day.”

Monday, October 1, 2012

A New Sherwood Forest?


Just exactly where is Sherwood Forest? For Western Tech’s incoming grade nine students it was at “Camp Robin Hood” in Markham, Ontario. This was an all day event held on September 14, 2012 to encourage team building and interactions among grade nine students - basically, to make new friends and have fun. Over 175 grade nine students participated. Students from the Leadership class and eight members from the staff and school leadership team led many of the activities and joined in the exercises. Thanks to all those who helped out with the organization of the day and a special thanks to our grade nine students for their cooperation and enthusiasm. We are all looking forward to a great year at Western Tech. Now, back to the forest...