STS Express · MYP PERSONAL PROJECT ... Appendix 1 – Personal Project Design Cycle:..... 13 Appendix 2 – Personal Project Criteria Descriptors ... The second resource I would

SEPTEMBER 14, 2018

STS Express

Weekly Newsletter

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STS EXPRESS – Weekly Newsletter Page | 1

CONTENTS

MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL ........................................................................ 3 BIG ROCKS ................................................................................................................................................... 3

IMPORTANT DATES ........................................................................................................... 5 SEPTEMBER ................................................................................................................................................. 5

SCHOOL CALENDARS ................................................................................................................................... 5

UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR! ............................................................ 1 STS FAMILY FALL FAIR – SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22 ................................................................................... 1

OPEN HOUSE – SHOW OFF YOUR SCHOOL – September 22, 2018 ........................................................... 2

FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS ................................................................................... 3 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED ................................................................................................................................. 3

Fall Fair - Saturday, September 22, 2018 ................................................................................................ 3

Terry Fox Run Follow-up ......................................................................................................................... 3

Elementary School Cross-Country Run – Friday, September 28 ............................................................. 4

Tweeds and More volunteers– Ongoing ................................................................................................. 4

Lost and found volunteers – Ongoing ..................................................................................................... 4

LOST AND FOUND HAS MOVED .................................................................................................................. 5

JOIN POSTS ON FACEBOOK ......................................................................................................................... 5

SIGN UP FOR THE POSTS WALKING GROUP................................................................................................ 6

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS .................................................................... 7 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 2018-2019 .......................................................................... 7

PARENT VIEWPOINT .................................................................................................................................... 7

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR 2018-2019 ............................................................................. 7

MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS ....................................................... 9 SPEECH AND DEBATE 2018-2019 ................................................................................................................ 9

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR 2018-2019 ........................................................................... 11

MIDDLE SCHOOL EXCHANGES................................................................................................................... 11

LOVE OF READING ..................................................................................................................................... 11

GRADE 7 JASPER IDEALS TRIP ................................................................................................................... 11

MYP PERSONAL PROJECT – 2018-2019 ..................................................................................................... 12

Appendix 1 – Personal Project Design Cycle: ............................................................................................ 13

Appendix 2 – Personal Project Criteria Descriptors: ................................................................................. 14

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Appendix 3 – General timeline for students ............................................................................................. 15

UNIVERSITY PLANNING .................................................................................................. 16 ON-GOING UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES ............................................................................... 16

OUT OF PROVINCE UNIVERSITIES FAIR ..................................................................................................... 18

2018-2019 UNIVERSITY PLANNING PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS ....................................................... 18

UPCOMING UNIVERSITY PLANNING CLASSES ........................................................................................... 19

UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY................................................................ 19

REFERENCE INFORMATION ....................................................................................................................... 19

GENERAL APPLICATION TIMELINE ............................................................................................................ 20

WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS ................................................................................ 22 4TH GENERATION STUDENT JOINS STS ...................................................................................................... 22

THE 33RD ANNUAL TERRY FOX SCHOOL RUN ............................................................................................ 22

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MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

BIG ROCKS

Happy weekend! Fall is surely upon us and it is one of my favourite times of year. I have

had an amazing welcome to the community and want to say thank you for the kindness,

good wishes and advice. The leadership of our school is in very capable hands. This was

evident seeing the many volunteers with POSTS assisting and nurturing our community on

the opening day. Your involvement as parents is essential and I am grateful to work with

you. I have had the opportunity to watch the Prefects in action at the school wide

assembly and knew instantly that we were going to have a great year. I am looking

forward to the annual Terry Fox Run this Friday and the superhero theme. My faith in

student leadership was affirmed again at the Middle School assembly when two young

women capably emceed and kept us in stitches while generating excitement for the

year. Yes, the leadership of the school is in good hands and I am happy to co-pilot on

this journey with our student and parent leaders.

In response to some themes that have emerged from our conversations I am pleased to

share what I call “big rocks”, which I think is appropriate given our proximity to the

Okotoks erratic to the south. My parents and I camped often in my youth at the Hogg

property that is now a provincial recreation area. When we spent time there, it was

really, as I recall, with permission of the landowners and I have many fond memories of

playing in the Sheep River, hiking and visiting local sites. The erratic always fascinated

me as an amateur geologist. But I digress… Big rocks to me are those foundational

principles that provide stability and anchor us in our decisions. The rapidity of change in

our world is unparalleled and we can succumb to fleeting trends, quick fixes and bad

decisions if we don’t start from a place of understanding of what we value. One of the

many strengths of Strathcona-Tweedsmuir is its ability to be progressive while honouring

strong traditions. The strong focus on the individual and the family is at the centre of this

and it will continue to serve our community well.

The educational landscape is evolving dramatically and I look forward to meeting with

you in the coming months to dwell in possibility as we shape our next strategic plan. I am

truly excited about this work and am excited to see how we continue to position the

school as an internationally recognized Centre of Educational Excellence. It will require

us to be courageous, to be bold, thoughtful and committed: keeping our children’s well-

being and success at the center of our focus. I will be sharing more information as my

team and I begin to formulate the next steps.

In closing, I would like to share two resources with you that have become touchstones in

my leadership work. Deep Learning: Engage the World Change the World by Fullan,

Quinn and McEachen (2018) synthesizes over thirty years of research in the educational

world. The premise of their work in their words is that deep learning “changes learning by

focusing on personally and collectively meaningful matters, and by delving into them in

a way that alters forever the roles of students, teaches, families, and others…learning is

the foundational driver and technology is the great accelerator.” Additionally, it focuses

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on developing the 6C’s of global competencies: “character, citizenship, collaboration,

communication, creativity and critical thinking.” STS is leading the way, in my opinion in

these areas.

The second resource I would recommend reading is a book by Grant Lichtman called

Moving the Rock: Seven Levers We Can Press to Transform Education (2017). I will spend

more time talking about this in future editions but let me share some thoughts from him in

his forty plus year career as an educator and researcher: “There is only one shared

dream that I have heard from all of these people across all of these seeming divides:

that our children be happy, successful, and lead better lives than our own. And nearly

everyone in every country and ever station life aggress that education is key to the

fulfillments of that dream. The value of education is where, despite all that divides us, we

mostly come together.” I am so excited to be part of this journey with you. Enjoy the

week!

Mrs. Carol Grant-Watt

Head of School

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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.

SEPTEMBER

September 14, 2018

Grade 6 Outdoor School Parent Briefing

September 18, 2018

University Applications Information night

for parents of Grade 12 students at 7:00

pm

September 18-20, 2018

Grade 5 Cross Conservation

September 19, 2018

Grade 9 Dayhike

Grade 7 Orientation Camp

September 19-21, 2018

Grade 6 Outdoor School

September 22, 2018

Open House at 10:00 am

Homecoming and Family Fall Fair

at 11:00 am

OE15 Backpacking (Groups A, B)

CAIS Middle School Student

Leadership Conference

September 25, 2018

Grade 7 Study Smart Workshop

Middle3 School Cross Country

September 28, 2018

Casual Dress day

OE15 Backpacking (Group C)

Elementary School Cross-Country

Run

September 30, 2018

Grade 9 Backpacking (Groups A, B)

SCHOOL CALENDARS

For more important dates and upcoming events, the following school calendars can be

found on the STS website:

2018-2019 School Calendar

Upcoming Events Calendar

https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/calendar/

https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/calendar/

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UPCOMING EVENTS – MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

STS FAMILY FALL FAIR – SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 22

On Saturday, September 22, from

11:00 am to 3:00 pm the Parents'

Organization of STS and the STS

Alumni Association will co-host

our annual Family Fall Fair on our

beautiful country campus in

conjunction with our

Homecoming Celebration.

A fun-filled day of activities are

being planned for the whole

family. Aunts, uncles, and

grandparents are welcome too!

Activities planned for the day

include:

food trucks

petting zoo

farmers’ market

STS merchandise booth

art display

cupcake decorating contest – cash prizes will be awarded. This contest is open to all

ages! Come join the fun at the fall fair and find out who our master chefs are! Winners will

be announced at around 1:30 pm at the event.

Full details and entry forms are available, here. For more information, contact Faye

Steinberg at [email protected].

New – Locked Room

New – Monster Obstacle Course

sports and family activities – face painting, carnival games, baked goods, school tours,

an OE activity and a few more surprizes up our sleeve.

Registration not required. Please stop by the information desk at Fall Fair to enter our

draws!

We can’t wait to see you! If you are interested in volunteering to help make the day a success, contact Tracey

Maybaum, STS POSTS Volunteer Chair at [email protected]

https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/Cupcake-wars-2018-Update.pdf

mailto:[email protected]


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OPEN HOUSE – SHOW OFF YOUR SCHOOL – September 22, 2018

Join us for a fun, interactive Open House on September 22 from 10:00 am – 12:30 pm

before you head to the Family Fall Fair!

This month, as part of our annual Family Fall Fair, we are thrilled to be hosting our new

and improved Open House, Saturday, September 22, 10:00 am to 12:30 pm – and we

need your help!

Please help us spread the word! Invite your family and friends to join us for Open House

and show off your incredible school.

As a thank you, please enjoy a lemonade and coffee on us at the Family Fall Fair!

We will give each STS family who sends a new family to our Open House complimentary

lemonade from the Family Squeezed Lemonade food truck or coffees from the

Monogram coffee booth at the Family Fall Fair on September 22. If you know a family

who RSVPs for Open House, please email us at [email protected] and we will send

you your complimentary lemonade and coffee vouchers.

Tour our beautiful new Elementary School wing, and innovative Arts and Design Centre

for Kindergarten – Grade 12, meet faculty, and participate in interactive activities in

classrooms across campus.

Click here to RSVP today!


https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/admissions/open-house/

https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/admissions/open-house/

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FULL SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

POSTS welcomes all new and returning volunteers! Email:

[email protected] to indicate your areas of interest so you can

volunteer as soon as possible. Regardless of grade, volunteering

provides a great opportunity to meet other parents and faculty as

well as get involved with the school.

Specifically, volunteers are needed for the following events in September:

Fall Fair - Saturday, September 22, 2018

Volunteers are needed to help with the Fall Fair on

our beautiful country campus. The fair runs from 11:00

am-3:00 pm. Activities include a farmers’ market,

petting zoo, face painting, carnival games, baked

goods, art show, food trucks, and a few more.

We will need 25+ volunteers to help with all aspects of

the Fair so please consider signing up by clicking here. Most shifts are only an hour so

volunteers will still have the opportunity to participate in the fun before or after their shifts!

Terry Fox Run Follow-up

Pledge Counters

Volunteers Required: 3-4

Time Required: One day at the end of September, as determined by the team.

Responsibilities: Counting money collected by students for the Terry Fox Run

and balancing pledge sheets. Direction and necessary supplies are provided.

Please contact Ms. Nicole Egli ([email protected]) for more information, or email:

[email protected].


https://www.volunteersignup.org/KBET7



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Elementary School Cross-Country Run – Friday, September 28

The Elementary School Cross-Country Run is a fun event for students, parents and

teachers. Come lend a hand and then take on the teachers in the popular Parent-

Teacher race!

Volunteers Required: Unlimited

Time Required: Varies but the event will take place in the morning and be finished

by noon.

Responsibilities: Timers, finish line helpers, photographers, snack prep and snack

serving.

Please contact Ms. Emily Ford ([email protected]) for more information. You can volunteer

by emailing [email protected] or click here to sign up directly.

Tweeds and More volunteers– Ongoing

Tweeds and More is looking for volunteers. After

meeting so many families during back to school, we

hope you can join us and become part of the Tweeds

and More group of in-store volunteers. Tweeds and

More is a great place to meet other parents,

employees and kids. Tweeds is run by POSTS and

functions entirely through the support of parent

volunteers. Scheduling for Tweeds and More is done

every three months and is very flexible based on your

availability. Shifts take place during Tweeds opening

hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 11:00 am and 1:00 pm and Fridays 2:30-

4:00 pm. To sign up as a Tweeds and More volunteer, please contact Maggie Jegen at

[email protected]

Lost and found volunteers – Ongoing

Lost and Found Volunteers needed! Please help once a month, or when you can,

separating lost items and identifying and contacting owners. Lost and Found now has a

new location next to Tweeds and More, and adjacent to our new Volunteer Lounge.

Lost and Found hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,11:00 am – 1:00 pm. This is a

very important and rewarding way to help the School. Please contact

[email protected] if you are able to help.



https://www.volunteersignup.org/PHQFJ


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LOST AND FOUND HAS MOVED

Lost and Found has a new location. Please visit our

new Lost and Found next to Tweeds and More, and

adjacent to our new Volunteer Lounge. To maximize your chances of retrieving lost label all the

uniforms, backpacks, lunch boxes. Please also label

any outdoor wear.

Mabel’s Labels are a great option for personalized

labels for your child’s clothes and belongings. When

you order labels, STS receives 20% commission – no

fees and no mark-ups. The more labels the STS

community orders the more money STS gets to reinvest in the School. Click here for more

information and to order.

Lost and Found hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays,11:00 am – 1:00 pm. This is a

very important and rewarding way to help the School. Please contact

[email protected] if you are able to help.

JOIN POSTS ON FACEBOOK

Are you a Facebook user and current STS parent? Join the new POSTS

Facebook group, and keep current with POSTS news and events.

The POSTS Facebook group is a helpful, parent- to-parent resource

where STS parents can post questions or information that help other

STS parents. Look here for timely information about volunteering at

STS, Tweeds and More, lost and found items, special events

announcements as well as other news from POSTS.

Whether you are selling your kids’ used skates or need someone to answer a question

about the start time of the Elementary School Assemblies, POSTS wants to help make

connections easier for STS parents.

Information shared within the POSTS Facebook group will only be seen by other group

members, and all group members must be current STS parents. Join at

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentsorganizationofSTS/

Please contact Jennifer Barber, POSTS communications chair, if you have any questions

or need assistance.

http://mabelslabels.com/support-a-fundraiser

https://www.facebook.com/groups/parentsorganizationofSTS/


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SIGN UP FOR THE POSTS WALKING GROUP

For new and existing STS parents of all grades, take in some fresh air and join us for regular

walks and a cup of tea. We will meet at 2:00 pm in the Black Watch Bistro, walk our

beautiful country campus, then enjoy a refreshment together at 3:00 pm. For more

information and to be put on our distribution list for these events, contact Lesley Sealy-

Thompson at [email protected]


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ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ASSEMBLY SCHEDULE 2018-2019

Please see the updated dates for our upcoming Elementary School assemblies which will

take place in the C.A. Smith Arts Centre (theatre) (unless otherwise indicated) at 2:50 pm

September 28

October 19

November 16

November 30

December 14 - PYPx Assembly

December 21

January 18

February 22

March 8

March 22

April 12

April 26

May 17

May 31

June 14

June 18

PARENT VIEWPOINT

Please complete and return the Parent Viewpoint questionnaire to your child’s

homeroom teacher by Friday, September 21, 2018. This information will help us begin the

school year with valuable information and assist us in providing an optimum learning

environment for your child. The Parent Viewpoint is in the Elementary School section of

the website.

ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR 2018-2019

Fall brings the start of the rehearsal season for 5 of our STS choirs. We are working towards

our Holiday Concert on Wednesday, December 12 and are excited to start singing and

playing some wonderful music. Singing is an ensemble art and we are better when all

singers are at rehearsal on a consistent basis. We would appreciate knowing if your child

needs to miss a rehearsal. Electronic Consents were emailed for our Elementary School

Choirs and the Junior Choir can be signed up for on Managebac.

The start dates and rehearsal times for your child’s choir are listed below:

Grade 5 Handbell Choir- Beginning Monday, September 17 at lunch recess

Primary Choir (Grades 1 and 2) - Beginning Wednesday, September 19 at lunch

recess

Elementary Choir (Grades 3 and 4)- Beginning Wednesday, September 19 at 3:50

Intermediate Choir (Grades 5 and 6)- BeginningTuesday, September 18 at 3:50

https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/Parent-Viewpoint.pdf

https://www.sts.ab.ca/mysts/home

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Junior Choir (Grades 7-9)- Thursday September 20 at 7:15 am for Grade 8 and 9

singers

Thursday, September 27 at 7:15 am for ALL singers

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MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL ANNOUNCEMENTS

SPEECH AND DEBATE 2018-2019

Speech and debate are original pillars of the STS founding schools, and are deeply

routed in our history and culture. STS strongly believes in the importance of preparing

students to be confident speakers, empowering them with skills that will go beyond the

classroom. Once again, we look forward to an exciting and rewarding year for our

students in Speech and Debate.

Practice Times:

Speech and Debate both in the Middle and Senior School begin this week with Speech

practice occurring on both Tuesday and Wednesday after school. Students are

encouraged to attend one or both of these practices. Debate practices occur on

Thursday after school for both Middle and Senior School.

Following is the schedule of Speech tournaments for both Middle and Senior School for

the school year.

Speech Schedule

John Diefenbaker High School: Friday, September 28

Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Academy (Canmore) Friday, October 12

Renart School: Friday, October 26

Sir Winston Churchill: Friday November 9

Bob Edwards: Friday, November 23

Western Canada High School: Regional Tournament, Saturday December 15

Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School: Provincial Tournament, Saturday, February 2, 2019

It certainly is not mandatory that all student compete at each tournment. However,

students must compete at least at two tournaments to qualify for the Regional

Tournament. The top half of all competitors advance to the Provincail tournament which

qualifies 7 students in both divisions to attend the National Speech Tournaments.

At each of the tournaments, students can choose to enter one of the following

categories: Impromptu Speaking, Persuasive speaking, Interpretive Reading of Prose,

Interpretive Reading of Poetry, Solo Acting, Duet Acting. We encourage students to enter

a variety of categories througout the school year to gain expereince in the different

formats of public speaking.

These tournaments cannot take place without parent judges; therefore, each students is

expected to provide an adult judge. No expereince is required and prior to each

tournament a judges briefing takes place which reviews the rules and what judges should

look for in each category. Judging is a rewarding expereince and in the past, our parents

have enjoyed the opportunity to see a range of talented students!

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Debate Schedule

Middle School

Louis Riel Junior High: Thursday, October 4

Connect Charter School: Thursday, October 11

Our Lady of the Snows ( Canmore) Wednesday, October 24

Calgary and French International School; Thursday, Novmeber 29

Western Canada High School: Friday, November 30

Westmount Charter School: Thursday, December 6

Balmoral School: Thursday, Januory 24, 2019

Senior School

Western Canada, Dates: October 24, December 2, February 5, 2019

University of Alberta Oxford Qualifier. Date: October 27

Ernest Manning High School: Senior High Beginner Debate, Date: Friday

November 2

Henry Wise Wood High School: Impromptu Debate: Date:Thursday,

November 15

Location TBA Regional Tournament, Saturday, February 9, 2019

These tournaments cannot take place without parent judges; therefore, each students is

expected to provide an adult judge. No expereince is required and prior to each

tournament a judges briefing takes place which reviews the rules and what judges should

look for in the debate. Judging is a rewarding expereince and in the past, our parents

have enjoyed observing students in the art of debate.

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ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL CHOIR 2018-2019

Fall brings the start of the rehearsal season for 5 of our STS choirs. We are working towards

our Holiday Concert on Wednesday, December 12 and are excited to start singing and

playing some wonderful music. Singing is an ensemble art and we are better when all

singers are at rehearsal on a consistent basis. We would appreciate knowing if your child

needs to miss a rehearsal. Electronic Consents were emailed for our Elementary School

Choirs and the Junior Choir can be signed up for on Managebac.

The start dates and rehearsal times for your child’s choir are listed below:

Grade 5 Handbell Choir- Beginning Monday, September 17 at lunch recess

Primary Choir (Grades 1 and 2) - Beginning Wednesday, September 19 at lunch

recess

Elementary Choir (Grades 3 and 4)- Beginning Wednesday, September 19 at 3:50

Intermediate Choir (Grades 5 and 6)- BeginningTuesday, September 18 at 3:50

Junior Choir (Grades 7-9)- Beginning Thursday September 20 at 7:15 am for Grade

8 and 9 singers

Thursday, September 27 at 7:15 am for ALL singers

MIDDLE SCHOOL EXCHANGES

Grade 7 students will have the opportunity to participate in an exchange at Hackley

School in New York. If your family is interested in hosting, please contact Ms. Emily Fraser

([email protected]) for more details.

LOVE OF READING

The Love of Reading campaign starts on September 15 and runs until

October 7! Students in Grades 7-12 are encouraged to bring spare

change to their homerooms, where jars will be located. All funds raised

will help purchase books for the Heloise Lorimer School in Airdrie as part

of Indigo’s campaign. The homeroom who raises the most funds will win

a pizza/booster juice party, sponsored by the Ruparell family.

GRADE 7 JASPER IDEALS TRIP

Between October 18-22, Grade 7 students will have the opportunity to participate in a

Jasper Ideals Trip organized between STS and Collingwood School in BC. It is run through

Parks Canada and students will participate in a variety of activities including Jasper’s

Dark Sky Festival. If your child is interested in applying for this opportunity, please contact

the Middle School Round Square Coordinator: Ms. Fraser ([email protected]).



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MYP PERSONAL PROJECT – 2018-2019

Grade 10 is a time of transition and growth for all of the students at STS. They are now in

Senior School where academic demands and expectations for independence increase,

and they finish their last year of the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP). It is an exciting

time for Grade 10s, and the MYP Personal Project is both a catalyst for their growth and a

means to reflect on how far they have come in their learning and maturation.

The MYP Personal Project is a culminating activity for the Middle Years Programme, and is

an opportunity for Grade 10 students to become fully engaged in something they are

passionate about. It is an expression of everything our MYP community has been working

towards to meet the ideals of the IB mission. Students will pick a project topic and goal

which excites them and creates an opportunity for learning while also showcases their

Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills. Grade 10s will utilize the design cycle to research,

plan, create, and reflect while they maintain a process journal which documents all of

these pieces. As they work towards the goals they set for themselves, students will

complete a report for all of their findings and reflections, starting with rough drafts due

periodically. Finally, they will submit a report with evidence of how they have met each

criterion, evidence of their product or outcome, and a completed academic honesty

form – all due March 6, 2019.

Throughout their MYP Personal Project, students will work with a faculty supervisor who will

provide guidance and regular checkpoints to keep students focused on their four

criteria: A-Investigating, B-Planning, C-Taking Action, and D-Reflecting. The MYP Personal

Project Coordinator will provide guidance to all participants, including monthly seminars

to explore the various components of the project during the Wednesday Grade 10

Advisory period.

The IB suggests that students spend roughly 25 hours on their Personal Project. We know

that our diverse Grade 10 community will have different degrees of skills and approaches

which will impact the time and efficiency with which they complete this project.

Therefore, students are encouraged to take full advantage of the structures in place to

support their successful completion of the Personal Project by meeting with their

supervisors regularly, by utilizing Grade 10 advisory periods, and by connecting with

various experts in their topic area.

The complete MYP Personal Project Handbook is available on-line. If parents/guardians or

students have any questions throughout the next months regarding the MYP Personal

Project, please contact Ms. Tina Kennedy, the MYP Personal Project Coordinator, 403-

938-9114.

https://vimeo.com/140968308

https://www.sts.ab.ca/file/MYP-Personal-Project-Handbook.pdf


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Appendix 1 – Personal Project Design Cycle:

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Appendix 2 – Personal Project Criteria Descriptors:

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Appendix 3 – General timeline for students

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UNIVERSITY PLANNING

ON-GOING UNIVERSITY PLANNING OPPORTUNITIES

Throughout the school year, Senior School students and parents have many opportunities

for learning around planning for university. These include:

Grade 10

CALM Classes

My Blueprint Web Account

University Representative Visits

University Fair (50 out-of-province universities on campus)

Individual/Parent Meetings as Requested

Parent Information Nights

Grade 11

Bi-Weekly University Planning Class


Strong Interest Inventory


University Tours (BC and Eastern)


One Counsellor-Initiated Individual Meeting

Additional Individual/Parent Meetings as Requested


Grade 12

Bi-Weekly University Planning Class


Lunch and Learn Workshops


University Tour (BC)


Two Counsellor-Initiated Individual Meetings

Additional Individual/Parent Meetings as Requested


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Appointment Requests

Parents and students are welcomed and

encouraged to book an appointment with Ms.

Caines to discuss the university planning process.

Parents, please email [email protected]

to set up an appointment. Students can book

appointments directly through their STS Outlook

account by using the “Scheduling Assistant”

feature.

University Counselling Office

The student area of the University Counselling office offers resources about post-

secondary planning and program information from around the world. Please feel free to

stop by and check it out anytime.

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 encouraged to attend as

many as possible to gain insight into a variety of programs. Unless otherwise announced,

these sessions will be held in room 51, across from the University Counselling office.

Date Time University

Monday, September

17

12:00-12:35 pm St. FX University

Tuesday, September

18

12:10-12:45 pm Dalhousie University

Monday, September

24

12:00-12:35 pm University of Alberta

Tuesday, September

25

12:10-12:45 pm Ivey Business School

Tuesday, October 2 12:10-12:45 pm Western University


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Wednesday, October

3

12:00-12:45 pm Boston University

Tuesday, October 9 12:10-12:45 pm Acadia University

Monday, October 15 12:00-12:35 pm Queen’s University

Tuesday, October 16 12:10-12:45 pm University of Toronto

Monday, October 29 12:00-12:35 pm University of New Brunswick

Monday, November 5 12:00-12:35 pm University of Calgary

Tuesday, November 6 12:10-12:45 pm University of Saskatchewan

Monday, November 12 12:00-12:35 pm University of British

Columbia

Tuesday, November 13 12:10-12:45 pm University of Victoria

OUT OF PROVINCE UNIVERSITIES FAIR

Friday, October 26 from 10:00 am-12:00 noon in the Sandy Heard Sports Hall:

Representatives from universities across the country will be at STS to share information

about their programs. All Senior School students will have a scheduled opportunity to

attend this event. Parents are also welcomed to attend.

2018-2019 UNIVERSITY PLANNING PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS

University Applications (for Grade 12 Parents): Tuesday, September 18 at 7:00 pm in the

Peter B. Ditchburn Library. All Grade 12 parents are encouraged to attend.

Academic and University Planning for Parents New to the Canadian Education System

(for Grades 9-12 Parents): Tuesday, October 16 at 7:00 pm in the Peter B. Ditchburn

Library.

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University Planning (for Grade 11 Parents): Tuesday November 20 at 7:00 pm in the Peter

B. Ditchburn Library. All Grade 11 parents are encouraged to attend.

Academic, Career, and University Planning (for Grade 9 and 10 Parents): Tuesday,

January 22 at 7:00 pm in the Peter B. Ditchburn Library.

UPCOMING UNIVERSITY PLANNING CLASSES

Grade 11

September 19 - Exploring values and criteria for finding “best fit” universities and

programs

Grade 12

September 20 - Starting on university applications

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.

Scottish Universities Session (Thursday, October 18 ; 6:00-7:00 pm at E.P. Scarlett) –

Learn about university opportunities in Scotland. Open to all students and parents.

Study & Go Abroad Fair (Saturday, October 20; 12:00-5:00 pm) - Don’t miss this

opportunity to start planning to study abroad. Learn about university and college

programs, scholarships, travel and

volunteer opportunities in over 100 countries worldwide. For more information, go

to: http://www.studyandgoabroad.com/calgary/

REFERENCE INFORMATION

My Blueprint Access

All Senior School students have access to a powerful educational planning tool through

our school subscription. Please visit www.myblueprint.ca to utilize this application.

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/

http://www.studyandgoabroad.com/calgary/

http://www.myblueprint.ca/

http://www.universitystudy.ca/search-programs/

https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

http://search.ucas.com/

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GENERAL APPLICATION TIMELINE

Please familiarize yourself with the up-coming and current timelines for university

applications. There is information, support, and guidance available for each step of this

process.

Fall of Grade 10

Meet with Ms. Caines to discuss US admissions process

Winter of Grade 10

Start studying for ACT or SAT entrance exam (for US only)

Fall and Spring of Grade 11

ACT or SAT entrance exam (for US only)

June of Grade 11

Write SAT Subject Tests for Early Admission (as required by each university)

Summer after Grade 11

Write UKCAT and or BMAT (for Medicine in UK only)

Prepare School Nominated Awards Package

Work on Essay Drafts for International Applications

Study for SAT or ACT

September/October of Grade 12

Submit Application for School-Nominated Awards

Repeat ACT or SAT (optional)

Research and Start Preparing Visual Portfolios and Auditions

October/November of Grade 12

Apply to UK and US early admissions

Write the SAT Subject Tests for Regular Admission (as required by each university)

Write Cambridge/Oxford Admission Test

November of Grade 12

Send Interim Transcript (optional - process varies by university)

October-December of Grade 12

Apply to 4-6 Canadian Universities

Apply to University-Specific Major Awards

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January/February of Grade 12

Send Midterm Transcript (process varies by university)

Apply to UK and US regular admissions

Many Portfolios and/or Supplementary Application Documents are Due

Apply for Residence (for universities without guaranteed residence)

Spring of Grade 12

Submit Final Transcript Request through MyPass

Apply for Residence (for universities with guaranteed residence)

Register for First Year University Courses

Apply for Rutherford Scholarship

Process paperwork for learning accommodations

Apply for a visa if you are studying abroad

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WHAT’S HAPPENING ON CAMPUS

STS has a 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:

4TH GENERATION STUDENT JOINS STS

Last week, Archer Rathwell ’31 joined the STS

community as the first 4th generation student to

attend STS following his mother, Mrs. Erin (McFarlane)

Rathwell ’00, his grandmother Dr. Janice Heard ’75

and great grandfather Mr. W.A. “Sandy” Heard ’47,

founding Headmaster of STS.

Welcome to STS Archer!

THE 33RD ANNUAL TERRY FOX SCHOOL RUN

Today STS hosted its annual Terry Fox Run for the 33rd year in a

row! We are proud of the way the STS community has

continuously come together to support this cherished full-

school event in support of the Terry Fox Foundation’s

fundraising efforts and to honour the memory of Terry’s

‘Marathon of Hope’. To date, the STS community has raised

over $624,000 in support of cancer research, and this support

is greatly appreciated.

It was great to see so many Super Heroes on the course this

year and we were thrilled to have so many family members

join us for this wonderful event.

Pledge sheets were distributed to students earlier this week or

alternatively, donations can be made through The Terry Fox

Foundation’s online funding page at -

https://www.strathconatweedsmuir.com/blog/

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http://www.terryfox.ca/StrathconaTweedsmuir.

Thank you again for your support and we look forward to seeing everyone at next year’s

run!

http://www.terryfox.ca/StrathconaTweedsmuir