OCTOBER 13, 2017

STS Express Weekly Newsletter

CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ........................................................................ 3 INSPIRING POSSIBILITIES .................................................................................................. 4

EVERY GIFT COUNTS! .................................................................................................................................. 4

IMPORTANT DATES ........................................................................................................... 4 OCTOBER ..................................................................................................................................................... 4

SCHOOL CALENDARS ................................................................................................................................... 4

UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ............................................................ 5 PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO THE FOLLOWING UPCOMING PARENT GRADE SOCIALS ............................................. 5

SAVE THE DATE FOR APRIL’S EXPERTS IN EDUCATION SPEAKER SERIES EVENT ......................................... 5

FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS ................................................................................... 6 STS’ STUDENT CELL PHONE POLICY ............................................................................................................ 6

MARTI MCKAY WEEK PRESENTATIONS TO STUDENTS ............................................................................... 6

FAST AND FEMALE SUMMIT 2017 - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 ....................................................................... 7

INVITATION TO PARENTS FROM JOHN PAULL II SCHOOL ........................................................................... 8

RESOURCES FOR CREATING A HOME MEDIA PLAN .................................................................................... 9

VOLUNTEER AT STS – WE NEED YOU! ......................................................................................................... 9

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ....................................................................................................... 9 PHOTO RETAKE DAY - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 ............................................................................................. 9

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS .................................................................. 10 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 2017-2018 ........................................................................ 10

TRICK OR TREAT? ...................................................................................................................................... 10

GRADE 3 STUDENT LEARNING ASSESSMENTS - OCTOBER 19 ................................................................... 11

MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS ..................................................... 12 GRADE 8 MODERN LANGUAGE TRIPS ....................................................................................................... 12

SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SPEED MENTORING EVENT – REGISTER TODAY! .................. 12

CLASS OF 2018 - BABY PHOTOS NEEDED!! ............................................................................................... 13

STUDENT SERVICES ......................................................................................................... 13 DROP-IN TUTORIAL SESSIONS (PEER TUTORING PROGRAM) ................................................................... 13

UNIVERSITY PLANNING PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS ......................................................................... 13

UNIVERSITY REPRESENTATIVES VISITING STS ........................................................................................... 14

OUT OF PROVINCE UNIVERSITY FAIR ........................................................................................................ 14

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UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY................................................................ 14

UNIVERSITY SEARCH TOOLS ...................................................................................................................... 15

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS ................................................................................ 16 LAYERS OF THE EARTH .............................................................................................................................. 16

CAIS MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CAMP – CAMP ONONDAGA IN MINDEN, ONTARIO ........................ 16

MORE THAN A FEAST FOR BRIDGELAND MANOR .................................................................................... 17

ROSALIND WISEMAN CONNECTS WITH STS STUDENTS ........................................................................... 17

SPARTANS RACE THROUGH DIVISIONAL AND ZONE MEETS .................................................................... 19

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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL DEVELOPING GLOBAL CITIZENS Last week I had the privilege of accompanying five of our Senior School students to the Round Square International Conference in Cape Town, South Africa along with Ms. Egli. The conference brought together about 1,000 delegates from 180 Round Square schools (www.roundsquare.org) in over 50 countries. At the conference, the students listened to some excellent keynote speakers, discussed their ideas in small, international groups, spent a day doing community service and had a day of adventure in and around Cape Town. We learned that Africa is a place of extremes – extreme beauty and diversity and extreme challenges. More than 2,000 recognized languages are spoken on this amazing continent, which also contains some of the most pristine wilderness on the planet. There are also more than 23 million people who are HIV positive and more than 50 million orphans, and these present unimaginable social, political, health and economic challenges.

While students typically start out somewhat tentatively in their interactions with others at the beginning of the conference, particularly when people are speaking in so many languages, by the end an amazing transformation has occurred. Over the week there is a bonding process and by the final ceremonies, it looks as if the students have known each other for years.

One afternoon as I was seated in the theatre for a presentation, I was struck by the number of languages that were being spoken around me. However, two days later when I was in London to host an alumni reunion, I realized that it was no different on the tube. We do live in a global society where people move about in pursuit of their goals in life. Exposing students to opportunities like this one helps them to grasp the globally-connected nature of our planet and better understand the issues that we are facing as a civilization – both regionally and globally.

In London, I hosted a group of about 15 alumni, some of whom graduated from STS nearly 40 years ago and others as recently as last year. Some are studying but most are working in a wide variety of professions. A common theme among the conversations was how well STS had prepared them for university and life beyond and given them the courage to explore careers halfway around the globe. It was interesting to hear their perspectives on everything from BREXIT to climate change and I must say I felt a great sense of pride in their confidence, wisdom, accomplishments and, above all, their character. They are truly citizens of the world and they are making a positive impact in so many different areas as are many other STS alumni around the globe.

Dr. William Jones Head of School

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INSPIRING POSSIBILITIES

EVERY GIFT COUNTS! As we are in the final stretch of the Inspiring Possibilities campaign, every donation will make a difference to help us collectively reach our fundraising goal. As such, the Advancement team is looking forward to discussing how you wish to participate in making our best even better.

As Dr. Jones mentioned in his recent email on September 30, we are eagerly awaiting the completion of construction and we still have $1.67 million left to raise this fall to reach our $27 million goal.

Most of our donors have had a conversation with Dinnie Baker or Caroline Banadar to tailor their giving in a very personal way. Please read the following presentation to understand the rationale and impact your family’s philanthropy will have on teaching and learning at STS.

We look forward to speaking with you in person or by phone very shortly to engage you in our collective success and how you can play a part in seeing STS reach our goal.

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.

OCTOBER October 14, 2017 Grade 8 Social

October 16-20, 2017 Marti McKay Week

October 27, 2017 Out of Province University Fair at STS

October 31, 2017 Casual Dress Day/Halloween costumes

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

Parent Presentation

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UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

PLEASE R.S.V.P. TO THE FOLLOWING UPCOMING PARENT GRADE SOCIALS Please note the new date for the Grade 11 Parent Social which is Saturday, November 18, 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Thanks to Barbara and Drew MacIntyre for hosting the social.

Please join us at the following parent socials, 7:00 to 9:00 pm, to meet new and returning families:

Saturday, October 14, Grade 8, Ali and Sorrayah Bhojani

Friday, November 3, Grade 12, Kim and Tim Hart

NEW DATE: Saturday, November 18, Grade 11, Barbara and Drew MacIntyre

Friday, February 9, Grade 9, Richard Baverstock and Jennifer Browning

Thursday, February 22, Grades 3 and 4, Suzanne and Scott Henuset

Saturday, March 10, Grade 10, Deborah Petriuk and Miles Pittman

If you have any questions regarding the socials, please contact Caroline Banadar at 403-938-8344, banadac@sts.ab.ca.

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!

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FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

STS’ STUDENT CELL PHONE POLICY Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School has developed a cell phone policy to guide the use of cell phones by STS students while they are at school. This policy was developed after consultation with the STS Academic Leadership Team, STS faculty, input from some STS students and consultation with several other CAIS schools. The policy is grounded in STS’ values of Integrity, Kindness, Respect, Responsibility, Safety, and Service which guide interactions between all members of our community.

Cell phones have become a ubiquitous part of our society and the lives of our students. STS recognizes that cell phones can serve an important function in learning, particularly for older students. At the same time, the School also recognizes that the misuse or overuse of cell phones can have significant negative effects on teenagers and is believed to be a contributing cause of mental health issues and can have a negative impact on sleep quality. In addition, the impact of cell phones on teenagers’ brain development is not known.

STS will continue to support students and families by sharing research about cell phone use at appropriate times such as at student assemblies and via the STS Express and we will continue to educate our community on important issues surrounding the use of cell phones.

Please feel welcome to contact any member of the Academic Leadership Team if you would like to discuss this policy.

The policy is available on the MySTS parent website and can be downloaded here: https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/mysts/Cell-Phone-Policy-October-2017.pdf

MARTI MCKAY WEEK PRESENTATIONS TO STUDENTS This year Marti McKay Week takes place October 16-20 and we have three presenters booked for Wednesday (October 19) and Thursday (October 20). This year’s line-up includes:

Carolyn Fisher – Children’s book author and illustrator

Carolyn Fisher is a children’s book author and illustrator. Ms. Fisher will be presenting to students in Kindergarten – Grade 3 on Tuesday, October 17.

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Mike Downie – Executive producer Mike Downie is the executive producer of the animated film adaptation of the graphic novel, Secret Path, which tells the story of Chanie Wenjack who died walking home from a residential school. The film as well as a CBC Reconciliation discussion panel can be viewed through: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/secretpath/gord-downie-s-secret-path-airs-on-cbc-october-23-1.3802197

Mr. Downie will be presenting to Grades 6-12 on Wednesday, October 18.

Jacqueline Guest – author Jacqueline Guest is a Metis author who writes books for children and young adults. In 2016, she received the Order of Canada for her work in promoting diversity in children’s literature and promoting Indigenous culture.

Ms. Guest will be presenting to Grades 4-7 on Friday, October 20.

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.

FAST AND FEMALE SUMMIT 2017 - SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 Did you know that girls drop out of sports at 6 times the rate of boys in their early teens? The top reason for their mass exodus from physical activity is a perception of no social belonging. Having a place where you belong, and are accepted for who you truly are at your core, is an essential need of every human. Girls leaving sports today, often say, “It’s just not fun anymore”.

It was from the need to solve this issue, that Fast and Female was created in 2008. The vision was to create a positive, empowering environment for girls in sport.

When coaches are more supportive, parents lay off the pressure, and teammates learn the skills to get along, the sport environment will be FUN, positive and empowering and girls will be motivated to stick with their activities.

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I am so excited to be the Key Note Speaker at Fast and Female this year and hope those of you with girls 8-18 years old, will attend this inspiring day.

What girls, 8-18 will learn: Girls will grouped into same-age clusters and attend a series of different workshops to grow their head, heart and body. Girls will have the opportunity to try different physical activities at Winsport and meet dozens of female Olympians throughout the day. I will be leading a B’tween Girls session on Positive Mindset in Sports -choosing to show up as your best self. It really is a cool event, with lots of opportunity to get a selfie with each of your favourite athletes!

What parents will learn: Parents and coaches will learn about the importance of a positive mindset in sports, nutrition for athletes, how to handle girl dynamics through emotional coaching and essential parenting practicing to help your athletes to reach their potential. And if this wasn’t enough reason to attend this year’s summit, know that they even give you lunch!

Special Guests: Cassie Campbell-Pascall, 3 time Olympian, Captain of 2 Gold Medal Hockey Teams

Erica Wiebe, Olympic Champion, Wrestling

Inspiringly,

Tasha Belix STS Consulting Psychologist

To buy tickets: www.fastandfemale.com or Eventbrite.ca

INVITATION TO PARENTS FROM JOHN PAULL II SCHOOL Let’s Talk Online Safety - What Parents Need to Know

A look at APPS, Cyberbullying, Social Media and the Law-with RCMP School Resource Officer Rita Gillis.

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

7:00 pm @ St. John Paul II School in Okotoks

This is a presentation for parents only– No students or young children.

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RESOURCES FOR CREATING A HOME MEDIA PLAN Students at STS are very fortunate to have 1:1 access to devices. This access however is often followed by the assumption that our students are always in front of screens, when this is not the case. Faculty in all three divisions are encouraged to utilize digital technologies when they have an educational advantage not realized through non-digital approaches including, but not limited to increased engagement, global interaction/communication, visualization, immediate feedback, adaptive learning for mastery. Still, parents are often rightfully concerned about additive screen time particularly when home consumption is included. To that end, please consider visiting the following web-based tool, created by the American Academy of Pediatrics, which helps families create a home media plan.

https://www.healthychildren.org/English/media/Pages/default.aspx

VOLUNTEER AT STS – WE NEED YOU! Parent/guardian volunteer participation at STS provides wonderful opportunities to support our children, make friends, and share your time and talents within our unique and exceptional community.

There are many volunteer options to suit everyone: sharing one or two hours (or more) of your time WILL make a difference! Check out our current volunteering opportunities or consult our Volunteer Handbook for many others that are coming up, soon. If you have any questions, or need help filling out the volunteer registration form, please contact us at volunteer@sts.ab.ca.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED POSTS welcomes all new and returning volunteers! Just a friendly reminder that all volunteers (new and old) must fill in a Volunteer Registration Form or register online prior to any volunteer duties. Volunteer Registration Forms are also available at reception.

PHOTO RETAKE DAY - FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Two parents are needed for the day to assist the Life Touch photographers with photo retakes. To sign-up, please email Tracy Maybaum at volunteer@sts.ab.ca.

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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

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: October 13 - Cancelled

October 27

November 17

December 8

January 19

January 26

February 2

February 9

February 23

March 9 – PYP Exhibition Assembly

March 23

April 13

April 20

May 18

June 1

June 8

TRICK OR TREAT?

From the playfully dressed-up to the downright spook-takular, it’s time to show off your creativity! Halloween will soon arrive and to promote the haunting, boo-tiful season, the Prefects will be hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest for the Elementary School students.

This year, students’ home-carved pumpkins will be judged by the Prefects. Pumpkins can be carved using any

inspiration so get creative, bring out your carving tools, and join in the fun! Prizes will be awarded.

Pumpkins should be brought to the School between October 24 and October 25 at 9:00 am. Your amazing creations should be placed on the tables set up in the Black Watch Bistro and be labelled for the contest. If you would like to keep your pumpkin, please

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pick it up on October 26 or 27 (after the Elementary School assembly). We hope to see your fantastic pumpkins out there! Happy Halloween!

GRADE 3 STUDENT LEARNING ASSESSMENTS - OCTOBER 19 What are Student Learning Assessments? Student Learning Assessments (SLAs) are digitally-based beginning of the year ‘check in’ provincial assessments that enable both parents and teachers to identify student strengths and areas for growth at the start of the school year.

The Grade 3 SLA is focused on ‘literacy and numeracy’, which are defined as follows:

Literacy is the ability, confidence, and willingness to engage with language to acquire, construct, and communicate meaning in all aspects of daily living.

Numeracy is the ability, confidence, and willingness to engage with quantitative or spatial information to make informed decisions in all aspects of daily living.

Samples of questions from previous pilot SLAs are at: https://public.education.alberta.ca/assessment/

Why are Student Learning Assessments administered? The purposes of the SLAs are to improve student learning and enhance instruction for students. Informing and supporting student learning is the primary purpose. They are meant to complement, not replace, day to day teacher observations and classroom assessment. For the 2017/2018 school year, the SLA will be available to teachers in all school authorities as a tool to use at their discretion. There will be no public reporting of school, school authority or provincial results for the Student Learning Assessments.

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MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

GRADE 8 MODERN LANGUAGE TRIPS Every spring, Grade 8 students at STS have the opportunity to participate in a language trip to either a Spanish speaking or a French speaking destination. For this week-long trip, there are no classes for students. The expectation is that all students will attend the language trips, which allows them to spend time in another part of the world where the language they are studying is deeply embedded in the local culture. Along with language instruction, students will visit a local school for a day and be involved in a number of activities related to the culture and history of the region such as visiting a sugar shack, engaging in French cuisine cooking lessons, visiting Aztec ruins, or taking salsa dancing lessons.

On Thursday, October 26 at 6:00 pm in the Peter B. Ditchburn Library, there will be a meeting for all Grade 8 parents whose son and/or daughter will be participating in the French language trip to Quebec City/Ottawa next April. During the meeting, the respective itinerary will be presented followed by a question/ answer session.

Though both trips take place in April, we recognize that much can change in six months, and due to fairly recent seismic activity in Mexico and Central America, we feel the need to hold off on the Spanish language trip parent meeting until a later date.

For more information, please refer to the following letter to Grade 8 parents: https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/mysts/French-and-Spanish-Parent-Meeting-Letter-Oct.-10-2017.pdf

SENIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ALUMNI SPEED MENTORING EVENT – REGISTER TODAY! Senior School students are invited to attend the 7thAnnual Alumni Speed Mentoring session on November 3, 2017, in the Peter B. Ditchburn Library from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.

Alumni from various professional backgrounds will be on campus to talk about what to expect in university and the professional working world that follows.

Space is limited. Click here to register today.

For further information, please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Brenda Thompson, Alumni Engagement and Events at thompsb@sts.ab.ca or 403-938-8318.

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CLASS OF 2018 - BABY PHOTOS NEEDED!! In preparation for June’s Grad Breakfast slide show, we are asking parents of Grade 12 students to search their photo albums for two photographs of their graduate - one as a baby and the other in their early school days. Please scan and forward both photos to GradBabyPics@sts.ab.ca. Please remember to indicate the students name in the subject line and on each photo. Thank you!

STUDENT SERVICES

DROP-IN TUTORIAL SESSIONS (PEER TUTORING PROGRAM) Peer tutoring drop-in sessions begin next week. Every lunch period (12:05-12:30 pm), Monday-Thursday, there will be one or more of our capable and giving peer tutors running a drop-in tutoring session in either room 12 or 24 for students. If students would like some extra help with assignments, getting organized, or being strategic learners, they are welcome to join sessions during lunch. Please contact Ms. Kennedy kennedt@sts.ab.ca if you have any questions.

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.

MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

LUNCH

12:05-12:30 pm

Math & English

Grades: 7-9

ROOM 14

Math & Science

Grades: 7-10

ROOM 24

Spanish, Social

Studies & English Grades: 7-11

ROOM 14

Social Studies Grades: 8-9

ROOM 14

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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, October 16

12:00-12:15 pm

Room 51

Acadia University

Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Tuesday, October 17

12:10-12:40 pm

Room 51

University of Calgary

Calgary, Alberta

Thursday, October 19

3:45-4:15 pm

Room 51

Ivey Business School at Western – London, Ontario:

The 2+2 program structure of the Ivey HBA offers the opportunity to explore two years of any field before specializing in business.

Monday, November 6

12:00-12:35 pm

Room 51

University of Saskatchewan

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Tuesday,

November 14

12:00-12:35 pm

Room 51

UBC

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 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.

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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:

LAYERS OF THE EARTH The Grade 3s were engaged in making a model showing the composition of the Earth. The students had to consider the depth of each layer when choosing plasticine colours and amounts. Lots of oohs and aahs were heard when their finished models were cut in half, revealing the layers of the Earth!

CAIS MIDDLE SCHOOL LEADERSHIP CAMP – CAMP ONONDAGA IN MINDEN, ONTARIO In September, eight Grade 8 students attended a leadership camp hosted by CAIS (Canadian Accredited Independent Schools). This camp is open to all CAIS schools and offers Middle School students an opportunity to meet and work with students from across Canada. At the end of Grade 7, students are invited to apply for this unique opportunity which is only open to students in Grade 8. This year’s participants were: Kessia Varkey ’20, Lillian

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Pernitsky ’20, Alia Nanji ’20, Taylor Lougheed ’20, Kendra Mullen ’20, Trinity Jekill ’20, Sameena Shariff Abdul ’20, and Azam Ali ‘20. The camp started with keynote speaker, Michael Eisen who is the founder of the Youth Wellness Network. He spoke to the students about the importance of self-care and the importance of “filling” yourself up before you can look after others. If your needs are met, you are better able to give to others. For the rest of the camp, students attended smaller workshops in various activities that could help them as leaders at their own schools. It was an energizing weekend filled with positive energy and great collaboration. A great take away quotation from the weekend was – “Happiness is a way to travel, not a destination.”

MORE THAN A FEAST FOR BRIDGELAND MANOR On Wednesday, October 4, a group of Middle School students visited Bridgeland Manor, a residence for previously homeless seniors. The students harvested vegetables from a garden they had planted last spring, and helped cook thanksgiving dinner for over 30 people. Student highlights were listening to the seniors’ stories during dinner, writing down things they are grateful for on laminated leaves, and hitting the piñata that the residents had filled with candy as a thank you gift. The seniors all commented on how amazing it was to have the kids there to talk to, and to experience their verve for life. At the end of the night, nobody wanted to leave, and it was a fantastic time. What a great reminder of the importance of community service, and how rewarding giving back can feel.

ROSALIND WISEMAN CONNECTS WITH STS STUDENTS Recently, STS welcomed Ms. Rosalind Wiseman as one of this year’s Experts in Education speakers. Ms. Wiseman is a teacher, thought leader, author, and media spokesperson on bullying, ethical leadership, the use of social media, and media literacy. She is a highly sought after speaker and is in constant dialogue and collaboration with educators, parents, children, and teens.

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Ms. Wiseman is the author of Queen Bees and Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends, and the New Realities of Girl World, the best-selling book that was the basis for the movie Mean Girls. Ms. Wiseman’s other book is the New York Times best seller, Masterminds & Wingmen: Helping Our Boys Cope with Schoolyard Power, Locker-Room Tests, Girlfriends, and the New Rules of Boy World, which addresses the social lives of boys and was awarded Best Parenting Book by Books for a Better Life in 2014.

During the school day on Tuesday, September 26 and Wednesday, September 27, Ms. Wiseman presented to three separate student audiences: upper Elementary School, Middle School and Senior School. She spoke to students about their relationships with one another, and how we interact and communicate with the people in our lives. She provided practical advice on dealing with conflict and conveyed a deep understanding of the pressures and challenges facing young people, particularly in light of the pervasive use of social media in our society today. Our students found Ms. Wiseman’s honest and caring approach both refreshing and engaging. Students across all three divisions commented that Ms. Wiseman genuinely understands the social dynamics of their age group, which gave her presentations an authenticity that students very much respected.

Prior to her student presentations, Ms. Wiseman also took the time to meet with small groups of students to listen to their observations and experiences with respect to their social world at school and the relationships they engage in. Students immediately felt a sense of connection to and respect for Ms. Wiseman because of her genuine concern for young people. It was clear to our students that Ms. Wiseman was

not going to make assumptions about them or their experiences, but rather was prepared to listen and learn from them in order to better understand and serve their needs as well as the needs of our student body as a whole.

On the evening of Tuesday, September 26, Ms. Wiseman spoke to a large group of parents and educators and she was similarly well received. Parents found her to be upfront and realistic in her characterization of teen behaviour and relationships. She offered practical advice to parents in order to help them better support their children in navigating their complex and high pressure social worlds. A link to Rosalind Wiseman’s full presentation has been made available to our STS community and can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/55XGWGd88BM

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SPARTANS RACE THROUGH DIVISIONAL AND ZONE MEETS The cross-country running season was off to a quick start with the STS runners taking the opportunity to test their legs against competitors at the Divisional Meet on October 4 at Lloyd Park in Calgary. There were many personal bests and many fantastic results on a snowy and wet course. Notable results included:

Junior Girls: 1st Lauryn Lubarsky ‘20

Junior Boys: 3rd Cooper Perron ’20

Intermediate Boys: 1st Matthew Beingessner ‘19

Senior Boys: 1st Kyle Webster ’18, 2nd Spencer Kalnicki ’18, 5th Oliver Turski ‘18

Many thanks to our parent volunteers who cheered and assisted at the finish line of the Divisional Meet.

With some race jitters out of the way, the Spartans ventured to the challenging Snake Hill course in Sundre for the South Central Zone meet on October 11. The pressure was on to defend the Zone banner and to also qualify to represent the school and zone at the provincial meet. The Spartans continued to impress and there were more results to celebrate including:

Junior Girls: 2nd Lauryn Lubarsky ’20, 8th Nyah Chernoff ‘20

Junior Boys: 10th Cooper Perron ‘20

Intermediate Boys: 5th Matthew Beingessner ‘19

Senior Boys: 4th Spencer Kalnicki ’18, 10th Kyle Webster ‘18

Also qualifying for the provincial meet in Edmonton include: Megan Evans ’19, Emma Cross ’18, Halla Kharfan ’19, Emily Black ’18, Bishneet Singh ’20, Matthew Baker ’20, Jeremy Pierce Lord ’19, Konrad Krusche ’19, and Oliver Turski ’18.

Please wish these athletes well as they look to defend the Provincial Banner on October 21!

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