Meadowridge Talon 2013

2013 Magazine for Meadowridge Alumni, Families and Friends

Shaping our World

CONTENTS

THE TALON is published for alumni, families and friends of Meadowridge

School by the Meadowridge School Advancement Office.

5 From the headmaster

A Meadowridge YearTake a look back at the past school year at Meadowridge.

Alumni Feature: Khallil Mangalji ‘11 An alumni who has put his French to good use at Apple.Interview by Carolyn Sapach

Gryphons on the Go Where in the world has Gryph been?

ALUMNI FEATURE: Soraiya Campbell Bowen ‘00 The journey of a cake baking lawyer.Interview by Kyle Sholes ‘12

A vision for meadowridgeShaping the World

Catching up with The Class of 2012What have they been up to in the last year?

Alumni Feature: Nicole Salloum ‘97Around the world and back again.Interview by Christine Bickle

Annual Giving by the numbers

Welcome to our newest alumni The Class of 2013

Alumni Notes

Alumni Focus: Bryant Mah ‘07Putting his cycling to good use.Interview by Kyle Sholes ‘12 and Renée Cummings

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Meadowridge School is proud to be accredited by or a member of the following associations:

DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Christy Mooney

PHOTOGRAPHY:Anita BonnarensChristy MooneyCali Cakes (Pages 16, 18)Canadian Bible Society (page 34)

Your questions and comments are welcome.

Alumni Relations, Meadowridge School

12224 240th Street | Maple Ridge, BC | V4R 1N1 Canada

Phone: 604.467.4444 | Fax: 604.467.4989 | Email: [email protected]

THE TALON © 2013 Meadowridge School, Maple Ridge, BC.

On the CoverThe Class of 2013 proudly display their Grade 12 ties at the beginning of the 2012/2013 school year in a group shot outside the school entrance.

Each year on the first day of school, the Grade 12 class is presented with their graduating ties to symbolize their leadership position at the school.

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EDITORS: Advancement Office

CONTRIBUTORS:Christine BickleHugh BurkeRenée CummingsChristy Mooney Carolyn SapachKyle Sholes ‘12

Hello, everyone:

I hope that this issue of the Talon finds you all happy and well. In speaking with many alumni, I am struck by the multiple and myriad paths that people have taken and continue to pursue. We have artists and musicians, actors and physicians, veterinarians and antiquarians, Art historians and philosophers, translators and psychologists, physiotherapists and engineers, salespeople and project managers, media experts and … well, almost everything.

Your diversity and your success is not a surprise. I remember so many of you before you took these paths; I remember the mornings and afternoons of your school lives: the plays you were in, the sports you played, the classes you took; I remember the untucked shirts, and the unusually shortened kilts, the days when you wore the number one uniforms so well, and days when the uniforms seemed to disappear, and when all I saw was your joy or your sadness about things. I remember

when you were challenged, and when you laughed, your friendships and your follies. As you were diverse and interesting while you were here, and as we cherished that individuality at the time, so we continue to cherish the many different ways that you continue to live well, and to live with others and for others.

Your school is also doing well. We have just bought about another ten acres, and we have just completed a Master Campus Plan which will allow us to expand to about 800 students. (We have about 550 right now…). We are a Continuum International Baccalaureate school, one of about 200 in the world to offer an IB education to children from Junior Kindergarten through Diploma. We also just became members of the Council of International Schools. The Campus Plan means that we will expand in such a way that children can continue to be highly individual, and to be cherished for the gifts that each may bring, while being prepared to work and to learn anywhere in the world.

The new campus plan is truly a visionary document. It provides indoor and outdoor spaces which recognize the focus on learning, rather than on control; it provides for adventure and for inquiry, for creation and for testing ideas, for contemplation and for action, for growing and for development, for running or for walking, for playing in sunshine, or for exploring the deep dark woods. It will have DaVinci rooms, for building and for learning; a new dining hall – with a fireplace to gather around; a learning commons; a new small theatre/presentation space; a suspension bridge; gardens and greenhouses; a running track and paths through the woods; a huge outdoor covered playspace/gym; and a new Early Childhood building.

This will take some time to build, and it will require careful thought and planning at each stage. But when we are finished, it will also represent one of the most forward-thinking facilities anywhere. It will also allow for development for future generations of Boards to contemplate additional uses for the land, or enhancements to what we will build together.

I began by saying that I hope each of you are well. I want to end by saying that I would like to see each of you again, to find out what you are doing now, and to get your thoughts on our developing school. There is always a cup of tea or coffee, and time for a chat. Please, next time you are in the neighborhood, call us and drop in. We would love to see you!

Hugh Burke

FROM THE HEADMASTER

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A MEADOWRIDGE YEARFilled with sports, spirit, studies, service and so much more,

a Meadowridge year is something to behold.

1. March 2013 Grade 11 students read Spanish storybooks to the Junior Kindergarten class

2. April 2013 Grade 4 and 5 students perform Aarf! The Musical

3. November 2012 The Grade 1 plate is presented to the Germain Family at the 2012 Gala

4. May 2013 Putting aside House differences, two students perform their Spanish Dance at Spirit Day

5. September 2012 The first day of school starts off with a handshake with Mr. Donaldson

6. September 2012 Students participated in the Terry Fox Run

7. March 2013 Parents volunteer their time to participate in a career panel to answer questions from Grade 11 and 12 students

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8. April 2013 Students release salmon into Latimer Creek behind the school

9. January 2013 Grade 4 students send their paper airplanes flying during the PYP Paper Airplane Contest

10. February 2013 A full school production of the musical Les Misérables was performed 11. June 2013 The Grade 3 class stand with the lettuce they grew in the Meadowridge PYP

gardens before donating it to the local food bank

12. October 2012 Grade 6/7 Boys Soccer team win their GVISSAA championship game

13. April 2013 Students at the first Meadowridge Youth Open Fencing Tournament

14. November 2012 Grade 9 students with their mural they painted in honour of Remembrance Day

15. May 2013 Grade 12 students cleaned up the streets around the neighbourhood

16. March 2013 A group of students in Belize during their Extended Field Trip

17. January 2013 The Lion Dance during the Chinese New Year celebrations

18. October 2012 Math 12 students use their trigonometry skills outside

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KHALLIL MANGALJI (Class of 2011) graduated from

Meadowridge just two years ago and already owns a

business, has finished an internship at Apple and is

pursuing a double honours degree at the University

of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University with plans

to graduate in 2016. When speaking to the Business

Administration and Computing Science student about

Meadowridge’s influence on his path through life, the

words “community, initiative and opportunity” are the ones

he keeps coming back to. Words by Carolyn Sapach

Early on in his studies at Meadowridge, Khallil showed an interest and aptitude for business. From Grade 7 on, he had a knack for knowing what his peers wanted and a way to offer it to them.

From selling rare Yu Gi Oh cards to making $1,000 in three days selling his own designed decals for MacBooks, he always had his sights set on the next big thing. His natural initiative and entrepreneurial nature were able to flourish with the support of a strong group of peers and helpful teachers.

Taking a bite out of apple

It was being at Meadowridge that gave Khallil the confidence to “differentiate myself and excel… Meadowridge has a way of making you feel comfortable with initiative.”

The self-confidence that he gained through the support of the school community began making a distinct difference in his life in Grade 11, it was at this time that Khallil launched his web-design company Primitive Designs (www.primitive-designs.com)

with a friend. Khallil’s experience with Primitive Designs sparked his love for web-design, and eventually influenced his current studies at the University of Waterloo, with a major in Computing Science.

In Grade 12 Khallil took Mrs. Carolyn Green’s Entrepreneurship class, and he credits Mrs. Green’s class for influencing his post-secondary studies. It was after Khallil earned $1,000 designing and creating custom MacBook decals that

8 THE TALON 2013

Khallil’s many years at Meadowridge have served him well. Khallil (far right); Graduation photo, 2011

he realized he had a natural aptitude for business.

“This solidified my desire to study business,” he says. Khallil’s aptitude and passion are being put to good use while he completes his Business Administration degree at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Ultimately, Khallil credits the entire community of Meadowridge for getting him to where he is now; “It’s the classmates and teachers that make the school unique,” he says.

“Those are the people that molded me into the person I am today, and it is to them who I owe the most thanks.”

The strong group of peers Khallil found at Meadowridge have continued to make a tangible difference even after his graduation. In fact, it was through one of his Meadowridge classmates,

Michael Abebe (Class of 2011), that Khallil learned of the double-degree programme which he is currently pursuing.

Without his Meadowridge connections, Khallil would likely have missed this ideal opportunity, and instead would be found at Western University doing a standard Business Degree. In addition to Mrs. Green, Mr. Kevin Wells also made a large impact on Khallil’s success.

“If it wasn’t for Mr. Wells, I would have failed first year University,” Khallil admits. “He gave one physics lecture where he proved to us that our lives are actually half over when we turn 18. That lecture changed my life!”

His peers and teachers were a huge influence on the direction he has gone, but so have the varied learning opportunities offered at Meadowridge.

Khallil credits the entire community of Meadowridge for getting him to where he is now; “It’s the classmates and teachers that make the school unique”

Collaborating with classmates and teachers while serving on the Gryphon Council as both Media Gryphon and then Community Service Gryphon, for instance, gave him the “autonomy to be a decision maker within the school” and taught him leadership.

As a result, he felt comfortable “jumping into the Mathematics Society at Waterloo,” and with taking on new roles and experiences at Apple. In fact, he landed his Apple internship because of the French language opportunities he took advantage of while at Meadowridge.

“Since I was working in Cloud Services, a huge part of the position is about localization and ensuring Apple’s services work around the world. Therefore, a major requirement was the ability to speak many languages. Mrs. [Katerina] Pogrebinsky had taken (me) and some classmates to France where we trained to get our Delf-B2 certification in the language. It was this certification and experience that ultimately led to me landing an interview.”

Since he is mainly interested in business and computers, the fact that he got the Apple internship based on his language skills truly surprised Khallil.

“This was the last thing I ever expected. I guess opportunities can come from any direction - so do everything and anything possible when it comes your way!”

This is great advice from such a young man. But with a clear direction in mind, and an openness to see even the smallest opportunities as they emerge, Khallil no doubt has a successful and colourful future ahead of him.

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THE PLACES GRYPH HAS BEEN SO FAR...

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Gashora, Rwanda

London, Ontario, Canada

Los Angeles, California, United States of America

Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Mossel Bay, South Africa

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Washington, D.C., United States of America

TAMSYN TYLER ‘09

Mossel Bay, South Africa

Ocean Research

Mossel Bay Marine Lab

Gryph flew overseas to see Tamsyn Tyler in Mossel Bay, South Africa where she was interning with Ocean Research. Gryph had the chance to get up close and personal with some of Tamsyn’s marine animals!

Gryph joined our Alumni across the country, nation and globe and sent back pictures of our Gryphons on the Go!Turn the page to see the unique, fun and interesting ways Gryph spent his time with our Alumni.

Gryph took a trip to visit our

Alumni around the world.

PREET CHHINA ‘12

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Museum of Biodiversity

University of British Columbia

Gryph joined recent graduate Preet Chhina at UBC’s Museum of Biodiversity in Vancouver, BC. Preet is currently studying English Literature and Psychology at the University of British Columbia and stays active through her involvement with UBC’s competitive weight lifting club.

DIBA TAGHVAI ‘12

Vancouver, BC, Canada

Eco Fashion Week

One1One Magazine

Gryph got behind the camera when he and Diba attended Eco Fashion Week in Vancouver, BC.

Working for One1One Magazine, Diba represented the publication at this event. Diba is also a full time student, studying Commerce at the University of British Columbia.

MARIE PAYNE ‘00

Maple Ridge, BC, Canada

Meadowridge School

Montréal, Quebec, Canada

Biodôme De Montréal

Marie and Gryph packed their bags and traveled with Grade 7 and 9 Meadowridge students on their Extended Field Trip to Ottawa and Montreal. Marie continues to teach at Meadowridge as an MYP Humanities teacher.

SARAH ORSER ‘04

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Dalhousie University

Faculty of Dentistry

Gryph visited Sarah at Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry before she graduated last May. Recently Sarah has begun a one year General Practice Residency. Sarah’s residency will take her around the province, working in places like Kelowna, Vernon, Haida Gwaii, and Victoria, and around the globe, traveling as far as Cambodia and Vietnam. After completion, Sarah looks to begin work as a dentist in the local area.

12 THE TALON 2013

KATHLEEN READ ‘11

Saskatoon, SK, Canada

History and French Degree

University of Saskatchewan

Kathleen showed Gryph a true Canadian winter when he went to visit her at the University of Saskatchewan. Over in Saskatoon, Kathleen is studying her third year of History and French.

KYLE SHOLES ‘12

London, Ontario, Canada

Huron University College

Kyle welcomed Gryph to the Students’ Council office at Huron University College in London, Ontario. Here Kyle acts as the Students’ Council Vice President of Communications and is entering his second year of Political Science and French studies.

SORAIYA CAMPBELL BOWEN ‘00

Los Angeles, California,

United States of America

Cali Cakes Bakery

Gryph took a flight down to Los Angeles to visit Soraiya, a graduate from the year 2000. Here Gryph watches as Soraiya works in her home bakery, Cali Cakes. In addition to running her own sugar and gluten-free bakery, Soraiya is a practicing lawyer.

Read more about Soraiya and her passion for cake on page 17.

DANIEL LE PAGE ‘05

Washington, D.C.,

United States of America

Gryph travelled with Daniel to Washington, D.C. where he attended a conference with his fellow Meadowridge Advancement members, Lyn Tyler and Christine Bickle. Daniel continues to work as an integral member of the Advancement staff at Meadowridge and has recently added Annual Giving to his portfolio.

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FARAN MAHBOUBI ‘12HASTI MAHBOUBI ‘13

Gashora, Rwanda

Covaga Innovations Centre

Brother and sister duo, Faran and Hasti travelled to Gashora, Rwanda last summer to help build a medical centre.

Gryph took a trip to Africa to meet our recent graduates and had the chance to make new friends with members of the local community!

Below is Hasti and Faran’s reflection on their and Gryph’s trip to Rwanda.

Having returned from our amazing travels to Rwanda, organized by the Developing World Connections, we wanted to share some of the accomplishments of the group that contributed to this collective life-changing experience.

We spent nearly two weeks in this beautiful country, known as the Land of A Thousand Hills, which is also the lightning capital of the world!

We met so many beautiful people and learned a great deal about the culture which, at the end of the day, isn’t that much different from our own.

This was the most amazing experience, because we had the opportunity to work with everyone in town! Women, children and men alike, all sharing tools and working side by side. Members of other cooperatives, Government workers, shop owners, families and everything in between.

I would like to see this activity at home – it’s a chance for the community to come together, learn from each other’s skill sets and to find out who our neighbours are.

Rwanda may not be a developing country after all!

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WOULD YOU LIKE A VISIT FROM GRYPH?

Include your mailing address, what year you graduated and an update on what you are up to.Then send us a picture of Gryph visiting you at

your home, school, work or volunteering.

Gryph loves visiting our alumni, he just needs to know where to go.

Send an email [email protected]

The project was at the Covaga Innovations Centre in the village of Gashora. Our contributions were:

• Planting hundreds of mushroom substrates for the mushroom hut at Covaga, which will provide many months of mushroom growth for the community

• Weaving supplies - such as needles, scissors, grasses and reeds for production and dye for the talented weavers at Covaga to create their baskets, jewelry and other products

• Providing soccer balls, clothing, toiletries, dental supplies for the community

• Donating live goats to disadvantaged families

• Creating “care packages” that included soap, rice, salt, sugar, meat and cooking pots for disadvantaged families

We successfully constructed the walls of the kitchen for the Covaga group, and will continue to raise funds to aid in the full completion of the building.

The courage, the strength and the spirit of the people of this war-torn country will forever be etched in our hearts and minds. We are truly grateful for the experience, the friendships and the love.

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Words by Kyle Sholes (‘12)

Baking her cake and

eating it too

A graduate from the year 2000, SORAIYA CAMPBELL BOWEN’S path

since leaving Meadowridge has turned, transformed, and been shaped

in ways she never could have imagined. While she currently lives in

Los Angeles with her husband, Soraiya’s journey from Maple Ridge to

Los Angeles has had many stops along the way. She studied opera at

Queen’s University and Edinburgh University, played in a UK jazz-rock

band, and pursued three more degrees in: Islamic studies, alternative

dispute resolution and most recently, law. In December 2012 Soraiya

was sworn in as an attorney after passing the California bar exam; one

of the most difficult bars in the United States!

Soraiya’s education and personal pursuits have allowed her to reside and explore in places all throughout the world: “The places I’ve lived? Kingston, Ontario, Edinburgh, Scotland, and London, United Kingdom. I miss all of them like they are home. More recently in California I’ve lived in Malibu, Orange County, and now Los Angeles.”

Soraiya’s music and studies have also taken her to many other places, including Japan, the Middle East and New York. In particular, Soraiya remembers her summer spent in Syria, a country currently in the midsts of devastating conflict, “It’s hard to believe that all the beautiful places and communities I visited - families that fed me in their homes - have been completely destroyed. It is unfathomable.”

Soraiya explains, “I feel extremely blessed to have lived in so many interesting places, and studied such a broad spread of subjects”. She urges Meadowridge students and graduates alike not to worry if they do not know what they will do after high school, “It has been my experience that everything I have studied, and every job I have had, has helped me to develop skills, knowledge and confidence which are transferable to other fields.”

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This philosophy has proven true for Soraiya, just last fall she and her husband began Cali Cakes, a small in-home bakery. What started as a project to create delicious desserts free of sugar and flour for the two of them, has now developed into a small and ever expanding business.

Soraiya never intended for her home baking to become an entrepreneurial pursuit, but is happy that Cali Cakes “has blossomed into a business because friends and acquaintances want to eat our desserts too!”

Running her own bakery, Soraiya’s legal experience is assisting her in ways she never anticipated, “It is really helpful that I can easily research and understand the laws governing in-home baking businesses in order to ensure that Cali Cakes meets state and federal food and health laws”.

In addition to Cali Cakes, Soraiya is also a practicing lawyer. Her current focus is helping people obtain

conservatorships, (“guardianships for adults with disabilities or dementia”), and Soraiya also plans to practice immigration law.

Leading such a multi-faceted life can be tough, but Soraiya remembers the lessons she learned at Meadowridge to help her be successful. She recalls how busy life as a Meadowridge student was, and how she learned to develop a routine to keep things organized. Soraiya still relies on her personal routine to be “a balancing and driving force” in her life, proving

to be an “effective tool in subsequent studies, jobs, and life in general”. She says that with a routine, “I can be more accountable to myself about whether I am living the life I want to live.”

This advice is particularly fitting; Soraiya’s endeavors demonstrate that, with effective self-management, there are no restrictions to the successes you can achieve. Soraiya’s accomplishments are as varied as they are commendable,

but there is one commonality amongst them all,” they all require seriously hard work! It’s incredible how much they have in common in terms of the mental and physical discipline and stamina they demand”.

However, the hard work is always worthwhile, as Soraiya notes one last commonality of her endeavors: “they are also all deeply rewarding”. Although Soraiya remembers Meadowridge as a busy place, she carries many fond memories among her thoughts of textbooks, essays, and exams. She

remembers the experiences she had with her friends, “performing an ABBA song on that great big stage and painting the huge dragon mural inside the school”, the meaningful interactions she had with her teachers, “Ms. Mar’s sense of humour and seeming limitless patience with teenage buffoonery and Mr. Graveson’s fantastic classes and his compassion”, and giving back to the community through “Thanksgiving service events”.

Leading such a multi-faceted life can be tough, but Soraiya remembers the lessons she learned at Meadowridge to help her be successful. She recalls how busy life as a Meadowridge student was, and how she learned to develop a routine to keep things organized.

The dragon mural Soraiya and her classmates painted in 1998 is still on the wall proudly representing Whonnock house.

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Over the thirteen years since Soraiya’s graduation, Meadowridge has seen many changes. However, many of her cherished memories remain alive at the school: friends still take the stage every year during our Café Nights, Mr. Graveson is still regarded as a compassionate and caring role-model by all of his students, and our school continues to give back to the local community through our student-led annual “Autumn Harvest Dinner” for local seniors; Soraiya’s mural is even still here!

Among her memories of a busy, fun, and rewarding time at Meadowridge, one lesson in particular has stuck with Soraiya since she graduated: the importance of investigating bias.

Soraiya recalls that in one of her social studies classes “I suddenly realized that the history we were studying

was written from only one vantage point, and that therefore it was utterly incomplete.”

Soraiya learned early on that history, and any writing or speech for that matter, cannot be considered as the simple truth, but rather must be analyzed to learn about the author, their intent, and their audience.

Recognizing the value of being able to develop such critical thinking skills, Soraiya explains “I have taken this tool everywhere with me. It has helped me to understand people better and improve my relationships, to be less quick to judge or draw conclusions, to be a better student, and to challenge my own perspectives.”

Lessons such as these have helped Soraiya live across the country and overseas, study opera and play in a

band, become a lawyer and run a bakery.

But now we’re left wondering, what’s next? As we know well at Meadowridge, the future is full of change, excitement, and promise, and surely this is true for Soraiya as well.

But when asked about her plans for the future, Soraiya leaves us with this: “I plan a lot of things but life usually unfolds differently, and better, than my plans. No matter what I do and where I live, I’m motivated to ‘suit up and show up’ each day because there’s a chance I will find out how I can be most useful to others and therefore, be happy.”

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A Vision for Meadowridge

Do you remember starting a new school year? There is always an excitement, a little

nervousness, a hope, some new clothes, packages of paper, new pens and pencils,

and a promise of possibility. The past is gone and over, and a different path lies

ahead… a future which you can create: a future of challenges to meet, changes to

embrace, people to work beside, and opportunities to seize.

Meadowridge has constructed a culture of continuous learning through inquiry, inquiry which involves others, depends on others and serves others.

About our visionThis sense of preparing to create a successful future is what great schools are

about… not just getting ready for another school year; it is getting ready to lead a

full and satisfying life. In Meadowridge, we understand that every moment is about

building potential in each child, building strength and knowledge, building inquiry,

civility and social grace, and so creating reflective, caring and courageous people.

We are involved with our families in shaping students to meet the challenges of

an unknown and unknowable future, and making sure that they can shape their

own future. Rather than being subject to the capricious whims of others; they

should be able to swim in a sea of change, and rise above capturing currents to

steer their own direction in order to drive their own destinations in the world. In

the world… this is now more than simply a metaphor. We know that our students

are not graduating so that they can simply be good citizens of Maple Ridge, or

British Columbia, or Canada. Our children will live and work and love and serve

on a global scale, and must be able to encounter and to understand the multiple

beliefs and cultures of the peoples with whom they will live and work. Their

education has to meet a global standard, and their everyday interactions must

inform their global futures. They will have to continuously learn, continuously

design, continuously communicate, and so, continuously construct their own lives.

To make sure that our graduates can do that, Meadowridge has constructed a

culture of continuous learning through inquiry, inquiry which involves others,

depends on others and serves others. Our school engages both in challenge and

support, so our children develop positive self-regard through accomplishment

and through acceptance, through learning from both success and from failure, and

through being safe while taking risks. Our global community, drawing on families

from multiple cultures and languages, beliefs and geographies, mirrors the world,

and prepares our students for their life after graduation. Our development of

civility and care puts each child at the helm of their own adventures, working and

living alongside others throughout their lives. Our embrace of the International

Baccalaureate ensures that our children are getting the best education in the

world, and preparing them to joyfully engage with that world.

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This, then, is our Vision:

People are drawn to our school from around the

world. In the spirit of active collaboration with

teachers, peers, and our community, we learn

how to care for ourselves and others.

Knowing that change is the only certainty, we

engage with complex and challenging questions

effectively and creatively.

Through outstanding teaching, programmes,

and facilities, Meadowridge develops in us the

confidence not only to meet the future, but also

to create it.

Somayan has had a very rewarding year studying Computer Science in the Faculty of Mathematics at the University of Waterloo. Being enrolled in Waterloo’s co-op program, Somayan has successfully secured employment for his first work term this summer. He is working as a software developer for Dactyl Studios in Victoria, where the company makes cross-platform applications for clients around the world.

Over the past few months, Somayan has been working on two iOS apps, one of which is an educational game designed to teach children graphemes and prefixes. “It’s as fun as Fruit Ninja, yet twice as educational!” he explains. Somayan says, “It’s been an incredible experience to be such an integral part of a company, to create products for hundreds of people” and adds, “I’ve learnt more about programming in these two months than I have in the past five years”. You can have a look at all Dactyl’s applications, (and the website Somayan designed!), here: www.dactylstudios.com

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1 YEAR LATER Compiled by Kyle Sholes ‘12

We caught up with some members of the Class of 2012 to see what they have been up to in the year since they graduated.

While attending the University of Wisconsin, Oliver had the opportunity to travel to some of the biggest cities in Eastern Canada and the United States. He spent three days in Chicago where he noticed the well-developed business district and plentiful shopping opportunities. When in New York, Oliver was struck by Times Square and Broadway, which he considers to be possibly “the most developed and crowded districts in the world”. Oliver also appreciated the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Museum of Natural History for the precious contents each of them held.

However, despite being smaller than both Chicago and New York, Oliver describes Toronto as “arguably the best city of which I have seen”. In particular he enjoyed how one can experience the energy and excitement of Yonge Street one minute, and find oneself “alone among the skyscrapers” the next. This summer Oliver will be taking a break from studying and traveling and will be going on a new adventure; skydiving! He plans to return to the University of Wisconsin this fall.

During the academic year, Audrey became a member on the board of the South Side Free Music Program. Members of the program travel to south side Chicago where they teach music to children who would otherwise not have the resources to develop their musical talent. Audrey explains that she enjoys working with the program because it “allows me to make a difference in the community I live in”.

This summer Audrey is participating in EduAction, a community outreach program in Peru. The EduAction program is focussed on cultural exchange involving students around the world coming together to teach at a local high school. Audrey says her involvement will include “sharing leadership experience and exchanging cultures to develop a global perspective”. When Audrey returns from Peru she will continue to study at the University of Chicago, working on her degree in International Studies with a minor in Human Rights.

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Lyndsey has spent the past year studying in the Child Health Specialization module of the Honors Health Sciences program at McMaster University. After leading a number of initiatives for Free the Children while at Meadowridge, Lyndsey joined McMaster’s Free the Children club to continue her involvement with the organization. As a member of the club, Lyndsey had

the opportunity to travel to Sikirar, Kenya for three weeks this past May. During her trip she was able to meet children from local schools and helped to build Free the Children’s second all girls high school, Oleleshwa.

Through her immersion in the Kenyan culture, Lyndsey was able to gain global knowledge about issues affecting people worldwide and now compares her experience to the way she lives her own life. She recognizes that not all the problems in the world can be solved, “However you can change your own behaviour and raise awareness for issues that you want to improve because even the smallest action can promote change.” She is already planning to learn Swahili to return to Kenya sometime in the future. Back in Canada, this summer Lyndsey is helping run summer camps for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and plans to return to McMaster in September.

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Western University in London, Ontario has been Emma’s home since she left Meadowridge. Emma became a member of the sorority Alpha Gamma Delta in which she was part of numerous community initiatives. A few of the initiatives her sorority took on included: organizing a bone marrow drive, in search of potential bone marrow donors; a food drive for the local food bank; and fundraising for the Red Cross, Canadian Diabetics Association, and Children’s Miracle Hospital. Emma also continued to follow her passion for dance while away at school.

This summer Emma is organizing the summer camps for Super Chefs, an organization that educates children in fun and interactive ways about healthy living and eating. When Emma returns to London this fall, she will continue studying towards her Bachelor of Arts degree with an honors specialization in Criminology and a minor in English Literature.

While going to school full-time, Diba has also been working full-time. A commerce student at UBC’s Sauder School of Business, Diba is also the Executive Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief of One1One Magazine. One1One is a monthly online publication dedicated to discovering the latest in beauty, music, and fashion.

Although he is happy to cover and attend many high-profile fashion and music events in Vancouver, Diba explains “the most remarkable part of my entire involvement at the magazine has been to witness the underlying unity amongst the team”. He marvels at how the magazine began only a few months ago, during the fall of 2012, but has already transformed into a successful business that is growing daily. Interesting fact: Current Meadowridge student, Adriana Marchand, is also part of the One1One team! You can check out One1One Magazine at one1onemagazine.com.

A former Meadowridge Student Council President, Kyle has continued his involvement with student government in London, Ontario where he attends Huron University College. During his first year he was elected Co-Chair of his Residence Council, a position which allowed him to become deeply involved in his school’s community. At the end of the academic year, Kyle was elected Vice President of Communications and now sits as a member on the Executive Team of the Huron University College Students’ Council.

In addition to focusing on his Student Council position when he returns to London in September, Kyle will also continue to fulfill the requirements for his Bachelor of Arts degree with an honors specialization in Political Science and a minor in French.

Like many graduates, Shyla has switched the direction of her post-secondary studies. Leaving Canada after graduation to pursue a degree in Mathematics at the University of Manchester, Shyla has now decided to re-apply to university as a psychology major. At the University of Manchester, Shyla joined a baking society where each member baked and shared a different recipe every week! Shyla describes her decision to join the group quite simply: “Free baked goods, why say no?” She also spent the year volunteering at Flixton Manor, a retirement home in Manchester.

Shyla explains how rewarding the experience was to work with the residents, “I learnt a lot from [them] and enjoyed spending time and playing games with them as well”. Back in Canada for the summer, Shyla hopes to continue volunteering by becoming involved with the Food Bank, SPCA, and local retirement homes.

Preet was enrolled in the University of British Columbia’s Arts program during her first year of university. She says the program gives students “a really solid base for any arts degree that you choose” as it covers a comprehensive set of literature, such as philosophy, classics, and Greek plays.

Preet has decided to complete her Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English Literature and a minor in Psychology. She is also taking full-time summer courses in order to complete her program a year early. While at UBC, Preet has done more than just study, she also joined the weightlifting club to stay active. Preet attended a weightlifting competition and was awarded third place, however she later learnt that there had been a counting error and she had actually placed second! Congratulations Preet!

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Words by Christine Bickle

Making her way back HomeWe shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time. - T.S. Elliot

Nicole Salloum (Class of 1997) describes many of her decisions to have been based “on a whim” or going with her gut. By her

own admission, she is not one who has a five year plan guiding her way. After having the opportunity to speak with her, however,

I would suggest that it is something more than drawing straws. We spoke a lot about the core values of the Meadowridge

community and how they have influenced her along the way. A sense of belonging, care, humility and compassion have built the

confidence in her to leap when she needed to or stay the course. Close connections and I think above all, love, have informed her

decisions along the way.

26 THE TALON 2013

“Dad and I are cycling the Camino de Santiago at the beginning of next month. The route is usually done as a pilgrimage but I find cycling a great way to see a country.”

The Camino de Santiago (the Way of St. James) is a large network of ancient pilgrim routes stretching across Europe and coming together at the tomb of St. James (Santiago in Spanish) in Santiago deCompostela in north-west Spain where the bones of the apostle James are interred in the Santiago Cathedral. The Camino de Santiago is arguably the world’s most famous Christian pilgrimage, attracting about 180,000 visitors a year.

“This is my third trip like this and is starting to become a tradition of sorts. My first was with my sister, Simone, to the Czech Republic. We just had maps and a GPS.”

“My first trip with my Dad, Fares, was to Portugal. We cycled around the Algarve with a tour guide.” I ask if you have to train for such a thing but she said that when she was at school in Ireland that a bike was her normal mode of transportation so it wasn’t a difficult trek. She laughs,“I’m sure it might hurt this time. I haven’t biked like that in awhile.”

Nicole started her days at Meadowridge as a grade 5 student. The year before, Nicole’s parents recognized she needed a change. She was attending French Immersion at Irvine Elementary but was having difficulties with reading in English and generally not flourishing like all parents hope.

“They looked for alternatives. Downtown was geographically impossible. They happened upon a school in Maple Ridge that offered the change they were looking for and close to their Port Coquitlam home”, Nicole said.

“My friend Stephanie and I helped to start the first girls’ volleyball team. We were such a small school with not a lot of students or talent to pull from but we wanted to play. “We lost every game that year”, she says smiling.

Nicole adds, “My Mom was a grade representative and my Dad served on the Board for a few years when Anil Bharwani was chair. My sister, Simone, even attended from Kindergarten to Grade 8. The school was a big part of our family.”

“I loved Meadowridge. Those were some of my happiest years and they had a lot to do with shaping who I am. The relationship I had with my teachers helped to give me the confidence to go try new things. The school was a huge part of me and has set me up for the rest of my life. I have never been more confident than the year I graduated. It was so nice to have a community behind me. It buoys you. You feel you can do anything when you step out that door.”

And Nicole certainly has done that.One of Nicole’s teachers, Ms. McLean, encouraged her interest in the University of Guelph so she applied and was accepted. The first semester was tough as she got used to life beyond Meadowridge.

“I went from a class of 13 to 250 students. I came from a place where I was well taken care of and now my teachers didn’t know who I was.” By the second semester she was on her way, however, and has never stopped since. Unsure as to what to focus on, life threw Nicole a curve when her mother was diagnosed with cancer.

The inspiration to seek a degree in molecular biology came from her desire to know more about the disease and to understand the building blocks of things. After completing her degree at Guelph, Nicole was accepted to a

Master’s Program at the University of Alberta. She spent three years attaining her Masters in Cancer Research followed by a year of research.

“It was a good place to be. I was surrounded by extended family who lived in Edmonton. It made my time really enjoyable.”

Nicole’s valedictorian address, published in the local paper, June 1997.

www.meadowridge.bc.ca 27

And while research was gratifying, Nicole felt that it was a field where you were slow to make progress. It spoke to her enjoyment of problem solving but she felt there was something more for her out there. She thought of cooking school or going back to become an English teacher. Veterinary medicine had always been floating around in the back of her mind as well though. She went with that gut that she mentioned to me earlier and decided to see what was out there in veterinary medicine. And oddly it was a love of Irish Dance that brought her to Ireland and the University College of Dublin.

“In doing my research, I realized that the deadlines for most schools had passed but I still had a month to apply to attend in Ireland”.

“I came at the peak of the Celtic Tiger and was there for the crash.” (The Celtic Tiger is a term used to describe the economy of Ireland during a period of rapid economic growth between 1995–2007 and the eventual dramatic reversal by 2008.)

“I knew that after I completed my five year degree that I would not be able to stay in Ireland. The housing market had tanked and there were few jobs. Most of my friends left to work in the UK, Australia and North America.”

After graduation, Nicole booked a ticket to return to Canada and was originally headed for Quebec but then home sickness set in and she headed back to British Columbia.

“I left in 1997 and returned in 2011.” Even after so many years abroad, the Lower Mainland was still where she felt she belonged. Nicole spent three months living with friends at which time she saw an advertisement for a veterinarian at a clinic in Maple Ridge. “I knew Dr. Orser vaguely from my Meadowridge days. I knew that he had kids that attended the school which I definitely made mention of in my cover letter! Returning to BC was comfortable and I slid back into my old life, in a way.”

She was offered a position in part because of her connection with the school. “I couldn’t help but consider what I know about the students that attend Meadowridge. There is a common disposition and I knew that she would be an excellent addition to the clinic. Graduates know what it means to work hard but it is more than that. This is my business, my livelihood. I felt confident knowing that I had a Meadowridge graduate representing us. ” said Dr. Orser.

Nicole still keeps in touch with Bill Sinfield, Barb Odava and most recently connected with Timo Juaraco; all teachers from Meadowridge past.

“Mr. Juaraco brought his boss’s dog in to the clinic and he saw my picture on the wall. He left a note with a colleague and we ended up talking again.”

It is these connections that Nicole keeps encountering and have served her so well in her life.

And while Nicole is still young and there are many roads yet travelled, she has come full circle in some respects. Meadowridge was at the heart of her world for many years and coming back to work in Maple Ridge at Alouette Animal Hospital alongside a former Meadowridge Board Chair, like her father, is a reconnection to that core and the values that it represents.

Annual Giving

Nicole (bottom row, far left) in Grade 5, her first year at Meadowridge.

I loved Meadowridge. Those were some of my happiest years and they had a lot to do with shaping who I am. The relationship I had with my teachers helped to give me the confidence to go try new things.

28 THE TALON 2013

Annual Giving

230DONORSgave over

300

The LARGEST gift was

$ 1 5 , 0 0 0

The AVERAGE gi ft was

THE smallest GIFT WAS

Our Alumni contributed less than 1% of this total.

ANNUAL GIVING

will raise over

$200,000T O T A L L I N G

$175,000

Gifts can be made online, by phone, by mail or in personvisit www.meadowridge.bc.ca for more information

$25All gifts over

are eligible for a TAX RECEIPT

If every past graduate were to give $25, the Alumni contribution could increase

to over 5% of our total.

Are you ready to make a difference?

30 THE TALON 2013

www.meadowridge.bc.ca 31

1995JENNIFER MCKEVVER has lived in Dallas, Texas for the past 14 years where she currently enjoys working for the Cooper Aerobics Center.

1996Since graduating from Concordia in 2001 NADINE AYOUBI has managed clothing stores in Montréal and Vancouver, moved to the Netherlands for 4 years where she worked as the European Marketing & Sales Manager for a medical company, and now lives in London, England with her husband. They are also expecting their first child!

ROBERT LINDO worked for a few different law firms after graduating from the George Washington School of Law until he decided to move to Los Angeles in 2008 to pursue a career as an actor and stand-up comedian! [Photo 1]

1999DAVID BHAURUTH is currently working in quality improvement for BC Mental Health & Addiction Services. He helps oversee the provincial psychiatry service for the FPSC and Children’s & Women’s Hospital Mental Health Programs. David is also married and has a 13 month old son! [Photo 2]

1997After completing her Veterinary degree in Ireland NICOLE SALLOUM is currently working at Alouette Animal Hospital in Maple Ridge. For more information on what Nicole is up to see page 26. [Photo 3]

2000SALIMAH RAWJI had intended to return to Vancouver after completing her Law degree in London, England but then moved to Afghanistan to work with a telecom committed to the country’s development. Now Salimah lives in Dubai with her fiancé and works in regulation at Ernst & Young.

2001JESSE DAVIDGE continues to run his company, Blatant Studios. This year Blatant produced the game “Tripsters” for Translink and finished three new comics. Check out Blatant and Jesse’s work here: www.blatantstudios.com. [Photo 4]

2003ROBERT TESKZA is in his second year of PhD research at Goldsmiths University. Using eye-tracking technology and magician’s misdirection techniques, Robert is researching the psychology of attention. He has an interest in advertising and media; just last year he helped design an award winning ad campaign for the TV show “Hunted”.

2004SARAH ORSER graduated from Dalhousie’s Faculty of Dentistry at the end of May and has begun her 1 year General Practice Residency at UBC. Sarah expects to practice dentistry around Greater Vancouver, Kelowna, Prince George, Victoria, and possibly as far as Cambodia and Vietnam!

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JESSICA LIAO is working for the Infant Development Programme (IDP) and enjoys spending time with her 2 year old son!

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32 THE TALON 2013

2006TIFFANY YEN worked as a research assistant at the University of Toronto with one of the leading psychologists on research in abusive father-child relationships. For the past year she has been working as an IT Recruiter in Toronto.

2007CLAUDIA KEMPE will begin her Masters of Science in Business, Language, and Culture at the Copenhagen Business School this fall. Since graduating from UBC with her Bachelor of Commerce in 2011, Claudia has volunteered at a fair trade banana association and a summer camp in Peru, held an internship in Brussels for the Mission of Canada to the EU, and this past summer moved back to Vancouver to work in the marketing department of a large Canadian company.

2009BIO CHO is in his 3rd year at UBC studying computer science. He completed 7 months of co-op work but decided to pursue his own entrepreneurial interests. Bio co-founded a tech start-up company that hopes to change the way students buy and sell their used items with their app called, Stuffak. Bio also won UBC’s first Digital U mobile app competition!

CHAN OH served in the Korean Air Force for two years after graduation. He returned to Canada at the end of 2012.

2010KARIM JINNAH is continuing his studies in the psychology program at the University of Victoria. When he is not studying he volunteers as part of a campus peer help program with fellow Meadowridge graduate, Shyam Singh.

CHI LUNG POON spent this past summer in Hong Kong as an intern at the Hong Kong International Terminals as a Civil Engineer.

GEORGINA PRICE has been working as a marketing intern for Artistri Sud, a non-profit organization that sells artisanal products from Cambodia and Bolivia to retailers in Montréal while completing her business studies at McGill University.

HYUN SOO SEO has been continuing her studies in Food and Nutritional Sciences at the University of British Columbia. Every two weeks she goes to an elementary school to educate students about nutrition through nutrition and cooking workshops.

2011JASMINE ALLABY transferred from UBC to King’s College in London, England where she spent her second year of post-secondary study. Next year she plans to travel even further to study in France and Spain!

HARRISON COLLETT is studying Theatre and Political Science at McGill University where he is working for a theatre company and has acted in many of McGill’s productions!

KENDRA DAVIDSON is currently enrolled in the army reserves, as a Communications Research Officer. She has been busy at Queen’s University, starting the Third World Eye Club, which collects glasses for third world countries, is a member of the Chemistry Department Council, and organizing a Crohn’s and Colitis 5K walk which raised $8,000.

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2008CHARLOTTE WARD graduated with her Bachelor of Media from the University of New South Wales this past June. During her degree she held two internships, one with Telstra, Australia’s largest Telecommunications company, and the other with the global PR and advertising brand, Ogilvy. Charlotte is currently a PR Assistant at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Syndey.

5

BRIELLE PERLER graduated from Western University with an Honours Specialization in Kinesiology this year and will begin her Masters in Occupational Therapy at UBC this fall.

2012KYLE SHOLES spent his summer break from Huron University College working in the Advancement Offices at Meadowridge School helping the staff with a number of projects, including the Alumni Magazine and the newest shipments of Gryphs! [Photo 6]

LILLIAN YIN help runs a club at McGill University called “Happy Belly”. Happy Belly collects donated food from stores, co-ops, and the on campus farm and serves free vegan food on campus every Thursday. They have also partnered with a group called “Gorilla Composting” to help reduce waste.

ANDREA PALMER is currently part of the Engineering Co-op programme at the University of British Columbia. Among her many Co-op positions, she has worked at an industrial robotics company in Salmon Arm and is currently working for a precision farming company in Vancouver. Currently she is the Team Captain of the Women in Engineering programme, the UBC Thunderbots, a team that designs, build and competes soccer-playing robots and is the President of the Engineering Undergraduate Society. [Photo 5] 6

www.meadowridge.bc.ca 33

In a mere six years since his graduation, Bryant Mah (Class of 2007) has studied at post-secondary institutions across the country, ranging from Music at the University of Victoria to Optometry at the University of Waterloo; spent a year with the Canadian Forces Naval Reserves as a Naval Communicator new recruit; traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti to provide basic eye care and glasses to the local people; and this past summer rode over 665km in six days to help support the She’s My Sister campaign providing healing programs for women still affected by the 1994 Rwanda genocide. Needless to say, he’s been busy.

In fact, Bryant’s fundraising efforts for the She’s My Sister campaign extend to last year, when he helped the cyclists as a roadie and a photographer. This year, Bryant will be participating as a cyclist and is eager to take on the challenges associated with his new role, “this is the first time I've rode more than 50kms!” Bryant explains of the 665km trek. Bryant, however, is unmoved by any potential obstacles and maintains a determined enthusiasm when speaking of the campaign.

“It was amazing to spend a week travelling through amazing scenery with an amazing group of people. It was a big challenge and very exhausting to wake up at 5:30am and continue helping out as a roadie and taking photos and videos throughout the hot days! But it was well worth it and I enjoyed every moment. I’m excited to take part as a cyclist this year!”

This September Bryant will be entering his third year of the Optometry program at the University of Waterloo, and his seventh year of post-secondary studies. Although the years between Bryant and his high school graduation are growing, Bryant assures us that “it has all felt very short, and Meadowridge is still very fresh in my memory.”

Being a Lifer, Bryant grew up, like many others, within the walls of our school: “I am very thankful to have attended Meadowridge and to have been part of such a great class. It was a great and important time in my life”.

Cycling for changeWords by Kyle Sholes (‘12) and Renée Cummings

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34 THE TALON 2013

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Learning to live well, with others and for others, in a just community.Independent | International Baccalaureate Continuum World School | Coeducational | Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 | University Preparatory

MEADOWRIDGE SCHOOL12224 240th Street | Maple Ridge, BC | V4R 1N1604.467.4444 | [email protected]