It was a mad dash to the finish line for students in the Gifted/Enriched program. As the school year drew to a close, they took part in a range of initiatives that allowed them to further develop and demonstrate their leadership skills:
* Battle of the Bands, which was filmed by Rogers for High School Rush, featured numerous Gifted students. Top honours went to Dear Reader, showcasing the superb musicianship of George Chenery and Liam Stevenson. Placing first was a fitting farewell to George who is off to study jazz next year with a scholarship to George Brown.
* The May issue of Western’s student newspaper, The Hidden Agenda, was the largest since the paper was created by Grade 11 Gifted students Geoff Bercarich and Alda Escareno in 1999. This year’s editors Cindy Bui and Chelsea Viray are both graduating but will pass the helm to Gifted student Kaelan Myerscough.
* On Saturday May 22, several Grade 9 Gifted/Enriched students volunteered at the Junction’s annual Creative Children’s Dance Show, working behind the scenes with kids aged 5-11. The Grade 9s did such a great job that organizer Laurie Raymond extended an invitation for them to return next year.
* On May 19, Grade 10-Gifted/Enriched students joined senior Leadership students to participate in a project run by TREC Renewable Energy Co-operative at the Evergreen Brick Works Urban Environmental Park. Western students hosted and facilitated over 25 workshops for 600 Grade 5 students from across the GTA.
* On June 14, Gifted/Enriched students met with other WTCS students to plan Moving On Up, Western’s welcome to new Grade 9 students that is scheduled for September 1. The event offers orientation, information and celebration, and is a great way for current Gifted/Enriched students to model community leadership for younger students.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
W.T.C.S. Student wins T.G.H./University Health Network Award
Once again, Western Tech wins the Bette J. Johnston Director's Award! This
year Kritika G. received the award for excellence and achievement in
a co-operative education placement at University Health Network.
Kritika did her co-op placement in the Cancer Pain Research Program at Toronto General Hospital/University Health Network. During her time at the placement, Kritika helped with managing data, research and updating the program website. Throughout the placement, Kritika demonstrated a quick
mind and meticulous work. We congratulate Kritika on her award.
year Kritika G. received the award for excellence and achievement in
a co-operative education placement at University Health Network.
Kritika did her co-op placement in the Cancer Pain Research Program at Toronto General Hospital/University Health Network. During her time at the placement, Kritika helped with managing data, research and updating the program website. Throughout the placement, Kritika demonstrated a quick
mind and meticulous work. We congratulate Kritika on her award.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Grads Return Assembly
The PLC Transitions held a Grads Return Assembly on May 17th for grade 11
Western students. Grads shared the ups and downs of making the move from
high school to apprenticeships, college, university, or directly into the
world of work. .
Given the positive student feedback for this very successful event, we plan to host another Grads Return Assembly next year
Western students. Grads shared the ups and downs of making the move from
high school to apprenticeships, college, university, or directly into the
world of work. .
New Scholarship For WTCS Students
Western Tech has always had an ample scholarship fund. Notably, the school is one of most well-endowed in the TDSB for awards and bursaries in the Technical Studies area. Students in academic studies are also well-rewarded for their outstanding efforts and that pot of money has just increased with a new bursary to be funded in part by the Toronto media company “Back Alley Productions”. The scholarship will be called The Barry Duncan Media Literacy Scholarship/Bursary and is in honor of Barry Duncan a longtime teacher and proponent of Media Studies at the Toronto Board of Education, and within the province.
Media studies are an integral part of the English Curriculum at WTCS and are a vibrant and inspirational way to challenge and tap into students' creative and academic abilities. Working with film, video, sound production, script-writing and graphical texts is a core and essential component of the English curriculum and it is one that draws in a wide range of students and abilities.
Adrienne Mitchell a producer and director for Back Alley wanted to recognize the importance of media studies to the high school curriculum and to developing the future of Canadian film, TV, and radio production. “Media studies is very important to Canadian society,” says Mitchell, “ and we’re seeing how influential the media can be all across the Middle East in promoting and democracy and holding governments accountable. That’s partly why I believe Media Studies is so important to support at the high school level.”
This graduating scholarship will be used to support Mitchell’s aims. The bursary will be awarded to grade 12 students who show strong commitment and skill in the use of media in regular English classes. “It’s an exciting development,” says Ian Esquivel, the media studies teacher at WTCS. “Western’s a school that can proudly support and develop students and develop with these gifts. The scholarship gives us another reason to keep on encouraging students to explore media and to consider it in their future plans after graduation. We’re delighted with the support that the film industry is giving us.”
The first winner of the scholarship is grade 12 student Chelsea Viray, who has made a range of videos, collages, installations, and soundscapes at Western Tech, her latest shown at Western’s most recent Prom.
If you are interested in donating to the Barry Duncan Media Literacy Bursary Scholarship, please contact Tina Morrison in Guidance or Ian Esquivel in Media Studies. We’d be delighted to have your support.
Media studies are an integral part of the English Curriculum at WTCS and are a vibrant and inspirational way to challenge and tap into students' creative and academic abilities. Working with film, video, sound production, script-writing and graphical texts is a core and essential component of the English curriculum and it is one that draws in a wide range of students and abilities.
Adrienne Mitchell a producer and director for Back Alley wanted to recognize the importance of media studies to the high school curriculum and to developing the future of Canadian film, TV, and radio production. “Media studies is very important to Canadian society,” says Mitchell, “ and we’re seeing how influential the media can be all across the Middle East in promoting and democracy and holding governments accountable. That’s partly why I believe Media Studies is so important to support at the high school level.”
This graduating scholarship will be used to support Mitchell’s aims. The bursary will be awarded to grade 12 students who show strong commitment and skill in the use of media in regular English classes. “It’s an exciting development,” says Ian Esquivel, the media studies teacher at WTCS. “Western’s a school that can proudly support and develop students and develop with these gifts. The scholarship gives us another reason to keep on encouraging students to explore media and to consider it in their future plans after graduation. We’re delighted with the support that the film industry is giving us.”
The first winner of the scholarship is grade 12 student Chelsea Viray, who has made a range of videos, collages, installations, and soundscapes at Western Tech, her latest shown at Western’s most recent Prom.
If you are interested in donating to the Barry Duncan Media Literacy Bursary Scholarship, please contact Tina Morrison in Guidance or Ian Esquivel in Media Studies. We’d be delighted to have your support.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Pennies For Peace
Once again the LEAP students did their spring blitz penny collection in an effort to raise money for Pennies For Peace, an organization that provides educational supplies to remote schools in Afghanistan and Pakistan. This year the class collected $144 entirely in pennies! That's more than double what they raised last year. The champion fundraiser, Celine Ndongo, brought in over thirty-four dollars most of which she collected on her own street, noting: "Once people knew we were only asking for pennies, they were happy to contribute." So a big thank you goes out not only to our students but also to our great neighbours!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Engineering/Robotics – S.H.S.M.
Our Engineering/Robotics Specialist High Skills Major program provides students with a potent foundation for a wide variety of post secondary avenues. The program builds on a strong design component and problem-solving approach and is delivered in an atmosphere where ingenuity, collaboration and creativity are encouraged and recognized as valuable components of learning. Registered students are offered valuable experiential learning opportunities that help prepare them for real world challenges and advancement. 
In our first year offering this unique program to incoming grade 9 students, we have accepted 60 applicants and look forward to an exciting upcoming year. Who said it wasn’t cool to be smart?
TBBT Sheldon: A neutron walks into a bar and asks how much for a drink. The bartender replies "for you, no charge". Have a great summer!
In our first year offering this unique program to incoming grade 9 students, we have accepted 60 applicants and look forward to an exciting upcoming year. Who said it wasn’t cool to be smart?
TBBT Sheldon: A neutron walks into a bar and asks how much for a drink. The bartender replies "for you, no charge". Have a great summer!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Gracious Professionalism Award – for the second consecutive year!
Congratulations to the Western Robotics team – Warp7. This year’s team competed in two regional competitions, the Greater Toronto Regional (the world’s largest with over 60 teams competing for top prize) and the Waterloo Regional (widely regarded as one of the toughest in the circuit). 
The Waterloo competition was held on campus at the University of Waterloo. There were numerous sites to see and many students took advantage of time between matches to explore the campus and campus life. Of particular interest were the many fascinating thesis displays from the nano engineering and software engineering students that were being showcased in their building across campus. Our students rubbed elbows and exchanged ideas with some of the world’s brightest minds.
Not only was it a very inspirational trip for these future engineers and programmers because of the intellectual energy that abounds at UofW, but once again, Western Tech Robotics was honoured with one of the most coveted prizes – the Gracious Professionalism Award. To quote from the FIRST Robotics website:
Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious ProfessionalismTM."
Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.
In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity.
The Waterloo competition was held on campus at the University of Waterloo. There were numerous sites to see and many students took advantage of time between matches to explore the campus and campus life. Of particular interest were the many fascinating thesis displays from the nano engineering and software engineering students that were being showcased in their building across campus. Our students rubbed elbows and exchanged ideas with some of the world’s brightest minds.
Not only was it a very inspirational trip for these future engineers and programmers because of the intellectual energy that abounds at UofW, but once again, Western Tech Robotics was honoured with one of the most coveted prizes – the Gracious Professionalism Award. To quote from the FIRST Robotics website:
Dr. Woodie Flowers, FIRST National Advisor and Pappalardo Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, coined the term "Gracious ProfessionalismTM."
Gracious Professionalism is part of the ethos of FIRST. It's a way of doing things that encourages high-quality work, emphasizes the value of others, and respects individuals and the community. With Gracious Professionalism, fierce competition and mutual gain are not separate notions. Gracious professionals learn and compete like crazy, but treat one another with respect and kindness in the process. They avoid treating anyone like losers. No chest thumping tough talk, but no sticky-sweet platitudes either. Knowledge, competition, and empathy are comfortably blended.
In the long run, Gracious Professionalism is part of pursuing a meaningful life. One can add to society and enjoy the satisfaction of knowing one has acted with integrity and sensitivity.
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