November 3, 2009
Important Dates: Get more details from your counsellor and teachers!
- Grade Eight School Tours - November 13, 2008 - Tour the facilities. Meet senior enhanced students and ask your questions.
- Science Olympics - December 16, 2008 - Enter a maximum of 3 teams (5 enhanced students each) to compete for your school. Register early, spaces are limited.
- Invitational Music Event - December 11, 20078- Bring your band instrument and participate in this exciting workshop.
- Grade Eight Parent Information Night - December 9, 2008- Mrs. Quinn, Mr. Rosenblood and the Heads of Departments for English, Math, Science and Social Science will highlight the advantages of our program.
October 28, 2009
Attention Graduates: Scholarship Application and Supplemental Application
Writing Workshops - first week of November
If you would like some help organizing your thoughts and answers for scholarship applications and/or supplemental applications, please sign-up outside the ELP office for one of the seminars to be held in the last 50 minutes of your lunch period. Bringing your resume or personal portfolio will really help as we work through the Millennium Scholarship Application as an example.
Just recieved today : Millenium Youth Camp: Finland
Deadline for application: November 30
MYCamp which takes place in Finland, June 6-13, 2010 is in conjunction with the Millennium Technology Prize. MYCamp is targeted at young people (16-19 years) from all parts of the world whose interests lie in mathematics, the natural sciences, information technology and other technologies. There will be 30 participants, 10 from Finland, and all the educational activities, travel, accommodation and food will be provided free of charge. Participants will be selected based on motivation, achievements / hobbies and personal theme-related targets. A. The camp is arranged by Technology Academy Finland, Finland’s LUMA Centre, the Ministry of Education and the Centre for School Clubs. Vaisala will participate in the company orientation day. Applications can be found at: http://www.technologyacademy.fi/millennium-youth-camp-fi.html and are due November 30, 2009.
October 22, 2009
The Library Student Advisory
The Library Student Advisory Council is meeting after school on Monday, October 26. This Council is for those students who love to read and would enjoy helping the library develop its collection to meet student needs. All are welcome. Attendance at after school meetings is not mandatory, however suggesting and then briefly reviewing "greats reads" for students is! First stop? Chapters! Please stop by the library and speak to Ms Alexander if you would like to know more about this council.
October 21
New Items
1. IEPs
2. Quantum 2 Cosmos Festival: Student Submission
3. York Science Olympics: Student Submission
4. OSSTF Student Achievement Awards 2010
5. Young Women’s Engineering Networking Luncheon
6. University of Guelph: High School Engineering Conference
October IEPs
Part of the legal obligations of the Enhanced Learning Program is to send home the IEPs. Yesterday, on October 20, 2009 your son or daughter should have received an IEP in home room. Two items are updated in the document – the transition plan and a grade level Gifted Plan. You may expect the individualized comments regarding progress on the Gifted Plan with the end of semester report card. Please help us by signing and returning the consultation page to the homeroom teacher.
Quantum 2 Cosmos Festival
Perimeter Institute, Waterloo
Student Submission
If one ever wants to have their mind boggled and everything they are sure of questioned, the Quantum 2 Cosmos festival is the place to go. It features fascinating exhibits on everything new and current in the field of physics. In those short couple of hours, I went from knowing nothing whatsoever about things like quantum computers to knowing not only what they are, but also what they are made of, how they work, and the vast number of opportunities they could provide. While the bus ride was long and even longer equations appeared at every turn, this trip was completely worth it.
***
Quantum to Cosmos was an unbelievable experience given to us by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics in Waterloo. The day consisted of two events; our first was an outdoor “tent-event”. Inside was filled with a variety of extraordinary exhibits, as well as multiple presentations. The most widely appreciated attraction was the “thrill ride”; the dizzying gyroscope. People went up in pairs and experienced continuous twists and turns, while onlookers laughed as they awaited their turns. The whole event was a combination of intelligence, such as the superconductor presentation, as well as amusing intricacy, such as the origami. In the latter half of the day, we had the opportunity to listen to a presentation in a nearby theatre. This was probably one of the most intriguing presentations that I’ve ever witnessed, because the presenter actually dove into the “basics” of the fourth dimension and time travel, however “basic” that may be. The best part was that it was quite often brought to a level in which high school students could understand. This was the most valuable part of the day, because it showed how what we are learning now, has developed into brilliant ideas, and could still develop into even more extravagant concepts led by our generation.
The Woodlands Takes Silver: York Science Olympics
Student Submissions
I’m quite confident that I speak for almost everyone from Woodlands at the York Science Olympics, when I say that we were all pretty astonished to hear that we placed second overall in the standings. After consistently hearing the top 3 prizes being given out to other schools, it was quite a pleasant outcome to hear are name being called at the end of the day. But all the effort was due to the students who participated in the various exciting events. My event revolved around the famous Italian physicist, Enrico Fermi, who developed a method in which impossible, and incalculable questions, could be quite accurately estimated along a logarithmic basis; this is now appropriately known as the “Fermi Method”. This was indubitably amusing, as was the whole experience. The best part was the interaction between my schoolmates, and other schools, who enjoyed the spirit and nature of the event, just as much as everyone else. It may seem weird that an educational event could turn out so fun, but after being continuously tested at your ability to think on your feet, I felt quite satisfied that I had just participated in such a demanding knowledge-based competition. Overall, the day was a success for all of us, regardless of our individual rankings; we came second as a school, and we’re proud of it.
Recently, I went to the York Science Olympics. My group and I competed in the Chemical Squabble event. This event was basically like scrabble but with elements, numbers and polyatomic compounds. It was a lot work, but it was also very fun. The event challenges you to think outside the box to find places to fit certain compounds, to come up with the compounds that would garner you the most points and to do all that as fast as you can since you only have two minutes before you forfeit your round. Using what we learned in science about ionic and covalent bonding, polyatomic compounds, valences and structures, our team won our game, but we didn’t get enough points to make top three. I learned a bit more about covalent bonding from the professor who oversaw the event. He talked about reactions versus bonds and proper structures. Although my team didn’t win anything, the Photovore team won second place and to our amazement, our school won second overall. York was awesome because I learned a great deal about science, had fun with my friends and I got to check out the campus and see what post-secondary opportunities York can give me. I had a great time and I’m definitely going back next year with what I learned to try my hand at the York Science Olympics again.
***
The York Engineering/ Science Olympics was a great experience. It allowed us to take a step back from tedious classroom routines and examine how to apply our knowledge in the real world. The competitions provided students an exciting way to test their creativity, comprehension, and “outside-the box” thinking. After competing in Chemistry Squabble (a Scrabble-like game where competitors for chemical compounds instead of words), not only have I learned to appreciate both complex and simple compounds alike, I have also gained a fun new way to study for my chemistry tests!
Ontario Secondary School Teacher's Federation
Student Achievement Awards 2010
In Honour of Marion Drysdale
Are you a conscientious consumer? Do you shop responsibly?
Living within our means requires looking outward: buy what you need as opposed to what you want; make do with what you have; consider going back to basics. In this day and age, our global concerns must begin with local solutions. This can be achieved by avoiding disposable technology and thinking about sustainability. We should be buying locally, reducing waste and assessing out material values. It is time to wake up and smell the local produce.
Interpret the theme in poetry, prose or visual art. Produce a creative "original" piece of work that expresses originality – not merely something you see on a screen.
Please see Ms. Whittingham if you are interested in submitting your work.
Deadline for entries is early November
Young Women’s Engineering Networking Luncheon
Ryerson University
Saturday, November 7, 2009, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Young women (grades 9-12) are invited attend this luncheon and speak with female Engineers, Technicians and Technologists about a day-in-the-life of their chosen careers. You can get answers to questions such as: job descriptions, hours, salary, education. Contact your Guidance Department now!
University of Guelph: High School Engineering Conference
November 12-15, 2009 .
The conference is a four-day, three-night opportunity for grade 11 and 12 students from across Ontario to come to Guelph and experience university life. There will be seminars on Guelph's engineering disciplines, a lecture sit-in, activities with campus clubs, a campus tour, design competition and of course social aspects - all inclusive* (activities, mementos, accommodations and meals) at only $100 per student http://www.soe.uoguelph.ca