Top Banner
Newsletter Winter 2011 WEBBER ACADEMY Jay Ingram of the Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet and Emcee Dave Kelly talk to students about the wonders of science at Webber Academy for The Iron Science Teacher Challenge!
40

WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

Mar 24, 2020

Download

Documents

dariahiddleston
Welcome message from author
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Page 1: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

NewsletterWinter 2011

WEBBER ACADEMY

Jay Ingram of the Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet and Emcee Dave Kelly talk to students about the wonders of science at Webber Academy for The Iron Science Teacher Challenge!

Page 2: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

2Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter2

Winter 2011 Newsletter

About Webber Academy

Our School Mission is to prepare students to

thrive in university and beyond. This mission will

be accomplished by creating an environment of

high expectations of achievement, behaviour and

service.

Our society needs citizens with strong moral and

ethical values, who believe in the responsibilities

of citizenship and service to others. At Webber

Academy, we will actively encourage the growth

and development of these traditional values in

our students. Participation in, and enjoyment of

school life, will prepare our students for respon-

sible involvement in their communities and our

society as a whole.

Webber Academy was incorporated in 1997 as a

non-profit company with a mandate to be a high

quality, non-denominational, co-educational,

university preparatory, accredited private school.

Subsequently, Revenue Canada recognized Web-

ber Academy as a charitable organization.

The school is located in southwest Calgary in a

beautiful setting overlooking the foothills and

mountains to the west. The facilities consist of a

Kindercentre for four and five year old students,

a main campus building with two large gymnasi-

ums for Grades One to Twelve, a 400-meter run-

ning track, soccer field, and cross country trails

through the aspens.

Managing Editors:

Morgan Haigler&

Lorne Webber

Contributors:Grant Boyko, Joël Chalifoux, Eric Elofsson, Deborah Ferguson, Nicholas FitzGerald, Patricia Fullerman, Audrey Hughes, Chloë Koshman, Joyce Ma, Geri

Meisinger, Jean Montgomery, Niyanth Natarajan, Kasia Noworyta-Fridman, Jennifer Parker, Brent Pierce, Leanne Shirtliffe, Jemmie Silver, Kim Smith, Bonita Ting, Barbara Webber, Jaime Webber, Neil Webber

Contact Information

Email:

Lorne Webber Head of Advancement & Communications

[email protected]

Morgan HaiglerCommunications [email protected]

WEBBER ACADEMY1515- 93rd Street S.W.

Calgary, Alberta T3H 4A8

Tel: (403) 277-4700Fax: (403) 277-4700

Website: www.webberacademy.ca

Cover:

Jay Ingram and Dave Kelly visit Webber Academy for the Iron Science Teacher Challenge

Page 3: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

3Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Grade Twelve Legacy Project

(Page 13)

Chinese New Year Celebration

(Page 32)

3

Table of Contents

Cover StoryJay Ingram (Discovery Channel), Mary Anne

Moser (University of Calgary) and Dr. Webber welcome Iron Science Teacher Competitors

Details on page 33

IN THIS ISSUEPg 04 President’s ReportPg 05 Vice President’s UpdatePg 08 A Message from the Head of Senior SchoolPg 11 Student of the MonthPg 12 In Memory of Nicolle Sabine ZaslavskyPg 14 Webber Academy’s Featured AlumniPg 16 CHWYL Library Expands its CollectionPg 18 Junior High Students Write NovellasPg 19 Healthy Eating HabitsPg 20 Living the Hoop DreamPg 24 Art for ThoughtPg 28 Webber Academy’s Peforming Arts CentrePg 30 Musical NotesPg 31 Mandarin Workshop in ChinaPg 32 Webber Academy’s Chinese New Year CelebrationPg 36 President’s BreakfastPg 38 Parent Survey Results

Page 4: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

4 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

President’s Report

This winter has been

extremely busy and excit-

ing for everyone at Webber

Academy. Our students,

teachers and staff have

embraced the demanding

schedule and continue to

succeed in a variety of

academic and extra

curricular pursuits.

Webber Academy graduates and alumni are also thriv-

ing in their post secondary endeavours. Many of our

alumni are now completing degrees and launching

careers in a number of fields. Thank you to those who

share personal achievements and appreciation with

former teachers at our school.

I would also like to thank everyone who participated in

the school surveys; the input, suggestions and com-

ments will help us strive for excellence in all areas of

operation. Graphs and summaries of responses are

included in this newsletter and additional information

will be posted on the website.

The Chinese New Year Celebration was enjoyed by

students, parents and guests. It was nice to see many of

you at the wonderful event organized by our Mandarin

teachers and staff. The school has hosted a number of

events and competitions, with more scheduled in the

near future. The Iron Science Teacher Challenge and

The Provincial Speech Tournament were successful and

enjoyed by those who attended. Webber Academy will

host the Alberta Debate Championships and the Reach

for the Top provincial playoffs this spring. These events

would not be a reality without the dedication and hard

work of many students, parents, teachers and volun-

teers. We thank all of you who participate in these

important extra curricular activities and events.

The addition of the Performing Arts Centre will be an

outstanding asset for our community and a venue to

host additional events and performances in the future.

The capital fundraising committee in busy meeting with

potential donors and we ask all families to consider

donating to this project. The Name-A-Seat campaign is

designed to give everyone an opportunity to contribute.

Mr. Boyko has provided additional information and

updates on the construction in this newsletter.

We are also excited about the President’s Breakfast

scheduled for Monday, April 18, 2011, as Webber

Academy welcomes Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. I am con-

fident all guests will be inspired by this unique indi-

vidual and best-selling author. Ticket order forms are

available at the front office.

Dr. Neil Webber

Page 5: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

5Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Vice President’s Update

Dear Parents,

Sincere thanks goes to all

parents and students who

have been participating in the

formal pick-up process; your

cooperation during this period

of construction is sincerely

appreciated. Please know we

remain committed to making

this process as safe, efficient and comfortable as pos-

sible for our students.

Upon implementation of the process, Elementary and

Kindercentre parents were asked to avoid using the

Senior School and staff parking lots at dismissal time.

Several Senior School parents have reported that an

increasing number of Elementary students have been

making their way to the North lot to board vehicles.

This is causing congestion and may be compromis-

ing the safety of a few of our younger students. There

are other factors complicating the parking and pick-

up situation such as sporting events that take place

on campus at the end of the academic school day.

As such, this reminder goes to parents of Elementary

students. Please participate in the pick-up process by

3:55 p.m. or have your child attend Kids’ Club, free of

charge, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Kids’ Club oper-

ates until 6:00 p.m. Sufficient parking is available after

4:00 p.m. Changing from one option to another is

fine as long as homeroom teachers are notified well in

advance. Senior School students with younger siblings

in Elementary or the Kindercentre should meet at the

gymnasium if their families are involved in the pick-up

process.

For those who park off campus, please stay to the side-

walks when entering or exiting school property. It is

also expected that private driveways are not obstructed

and other infractions are avoided such as parking

within extended crosswalks, improper u-turns and driv-

ing upon sidewalks.

It is important for everyone to consider the need for

Kindercentre parents to use the limited parking that is

available on campus from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The

few stalls near the trees on the eastside of campus and

those in the front row nearest the main building must

be left for the Kindercentre parents.

Superior Rating Earned by

Grades Eight and Nine Concert Band

Webber Academy’s Grade Eight and Nine Concert

Band performed at the University of Calgary’s Rozsa

Theatre on February 25, 2011 under the directorship of

Mr. Brent Pierce, our Senior School Band Teacher.

The performance was part of the Alberta International

Band Festivals annual event which is held in both

Edmonton and Calgary. This is a volunteer, non-profit

organization dedicated to providing a performance

platform for Junior High, High School, and commu-

nity bands. Bands receive “Superior”, “Excellent” or

“Good” ratings from each of two adjudicators. One

adjudicator gives a written evaluation while the other

provides taped comments of the performance.

Barbara Webber

Page 6: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

6 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Vice President’s Update

Over sixty Webber Academy students make up our

Grade Eight and Nine Concert Band. At this recent fes-

tival, these talented musicians performed three pieces.

Upon completion, one of the adjudicators stated he

was “happy to break all the rules by giving a standing

ovation.”

The band earned a “Superior” rating with the following

supporting comments from the adjudicators.

“The most perfect performance I’ve ever heard!” •

“Superb and I want a recording!” •

Sincere congratulations goes to all band members and

Mr. Pierce.

Provincial Speech Tournament Results

Eight Webber Academy Senior School speech club

members qualified to participate in Alberta’s Debate

and Speech Association’s Provincial Speech Tourna-

ment on February 26th, 2011 at Forest Lawn High

School. Each one of them placed either first or second

in their categories. The winners and their Alberta Pro-

vincial placements are as follows:

Brennan Undseth: 1st Junior Impromptu

Aaron Ting: 2nd Junior Impromptu

Alina Lakhani / Serena Tejpar: 1st Junior Duet Acting

Ben Lukenchuck: 2nd Senior Impromptu

Luis Pombo: 2nd Senior Prose

Pam Austin / Mark Ting: 1st Senior Duet Acting

In addition, Mark Ting was named the 2011 Senior

High Mike Dorval Trophy Winner for the senior high

student in Alberta who best exemplifies the Spirit

of Speech in Alberta. The Speech Team is skillfully

coached by one of our Senior School English teachers,

Mrs. Bonita Ting.

Update on School Athletics

The Junior High basketball season has concluded

with the Grade Seven and Eight girls’ basketball team

securing the CISAA league banner for the second con-

secutive year. Special thanks to Mr. Daniel Mondaca

and all the parents who volunteered to make the final

league games a great success.

Both the 7/8 boys and the 8/9 boys teams made it to

the league semi-finals play. The 8/9 girls team and the

Varsity Girls did not advance to the play-offs but we

are proud of their efforts and consistent sportsman-

ship. We should also be impressed by the high level

of enthusiasm and expertise demonstrated by our

coaching staff.

Congratulations to the Junior Varsity Boys who are un-

defeated in league play and will be hosting the cham-

pionship game. The Senior Varsity Boys have been

ranked one of the top 2A teams in Alberta all season

and have advanced to the league semi-final playoffs.

The players earned a silver medal this past weekend

at an invitational tournament hosted by Strathcona-

Tweedsmuir School.

Also, rugby training has started with five eager teach-

ers set to act as team coaches and badminton season

will commence in approximately two weeks. Webber

Academy will host Reach for the Top on April 16th

Page 7: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

7Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

and the Provincial Debate Competition on March 19th

under the leadership of Mr. Sam Burke.

Upcoming Staff Changes

Mrs. Janice Lacroix will be returning from maternity

leave after spring break as Head of Elementary. Mrs.

Jemmie Silver has been acting as Head of Elementary

in Mrs. Lacroix’s absence and will continue serving as

Head of School.

Please also welcome back Mrs. Jennifer Ulmer to

Kindergarten and Mrs. Reagan Johnston to Grade One.

We are grateful for the wonderful job Ms. Sophia Zor-

bas and Mrs. Suzanne Sabourin did with their respec-

tive classes. We wish them much success in all future

endeavours!

Best wishes also extend to Mrs. Jennifer Wawrinchuk

and Mrs.Alexis Prendergast who will both be starting

maternity leave in May.

Continued

Grade Seven athlete Madison Gilewicz

Page 8: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

8 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

A Message From The Head of Senior School

Dear Parents,

I hope all of you had a restful

and enjoyable winter holiday.

Students seemed re-energized

when they returned to classes

in January. The Senior School

began the New Year with a

review of all classes and mid-

term exams for students in

Grades Seven to Twelve. Writing several exams within a

short time frame helps students develop better exam writ-

ing strategies and time management skills. This also helps

our students write a series of provincial tests or diploma

exams because they learn how to deal with the pressure

more effectively. Midterm exams also give us an opportu-

nity to assess the progress of each student and each class.

Also, I would like to extend a warm welcome to a new

member of our teaching staff, Mr. Brad LeMaistre. Mr.

LeMaistre is teaching Chemistry 20 AP classes, having

just returned from Korea. He is an experienced science

teacher and he has had a great start with his classes since

January 4th. Welcome aboard, Mr. LeMaistre!

As you may already know, Grade Nine students write the

provincial achievement tests and Seniors write diploma

exams. However, there is no outside standardized testing

in Grades Ten and Eleven. In order for us to track students

progress in these grades, compared to their peers in North

America, we have decided to administer the Preliminary

SAT exam (PSAT) in Grades Ten and Eleven in October

(24 students in Grade Nine also chose to write this test).

Grade Twelve students are very busy applying for univer-

Mrs. Noworyta-Fridman (left) with Serena Shie (right)

sity admissions and scholarships. Our career counsel-

ors assist students in these processes, and they have

been very busy helping with applications, providing

guidance and advice. We would like to congratulate

Ms. Danielle Broadfoot, who graduated last year. She

has been accepted to the Trinity College at Cambridge

University. Well done, Danielle!

Speaking of our former students, we had a lovely visit

from Ms. Serena Shie, who has just graduated summa

cum laude from New York University in Political Sci-

ence and Business. She has a minor in Sociology and

additional concentration in Political Economy and

Intellectual Property Law. Additionally, Serena was

Valedictorian of her graduating class. Upon gradua-

tion, both Goldman Sachs and the Construction Bank

of China offered her a position. It is very rewarding to

hear stories of success from our former students, but

it is even more rewarding to share those good stories

when they visit our school. Serena said, “Webber did

prepare me well for what lay ahead.”

!

Kasia Noworyta-Fridman

Page 9: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

9Webber Academy Performing Arts Centre

A Message From The Head of Senior School

Every year, Webber Academy’s Junior and Senior High

students participate in math competitions. We have

received the results of the Canadian Open Mathematics

Challenge, administered by the University of Waterloo.

Typically, only a handful of Grade Twelve students

participate in each school. Our nine participants were

from Grades Ten to Twelve, and their scores were truly

impressive. Congratulations to Christian Wong, Luis

Pombo-Reyes, Annelise Loczy, Dhruv Mayank, Lois

Yoo, Justin Brant, Ju Young Park, Igor Ilic and Hong Ru

Zhao! Also worth mentioning is the fact that Ju Young

(Grade Twelve), Igor (Grade Eleven) and Hong (Grade

Ten) made the Honour Roll which indicates that they

ranked in the top 25% of all participants. Well done!

Believe it or not, we are already preparing for the next

school year. Ms. Tara Patrick and I have visited all three

Grade Six classes and talked to the students about

Junior High. Parent information meetings (Junior High

for Grade Six parents and Senior High for Grade Nine

parents) took place in January and were well attended.

If you were unable to attend, please feel free to e-mail

me and I will be happy to send the handouts and an-

swer any questions you may have.

Our basketball teams are having a good season. Senior

boys enjoyed their San Diego trip in December, and all

Junior and Senior High teams are practicing hard and

participating in a number of tournaments. Good luck

to all teams in the rest of their league games! Before

we know it, it will be spring and tryouts for badminton,

soccer and track and field will begin. Announcements

about these tryouts will be emailed to students through

the student bulletin.

On Saturday, March 19th, Webber Academy will

be hosting the provincial debate competition and on

Saturday, April 16th the Reach for the Top Provincial

Finals. We are looking for volunteers, students and

adults, to help out with various aspects of these events.

If you could lend us a hand, we would very much ap-

preciate it. Please email Mrs. Bonita Ting (bting@web-

beracademy.ca) for speech, Mr. Sam Burke (sburke@

webberacademy.ca) for debate and Mr. David Rose

([email protected]) for Reach for the Top.

Upcoming Junior and Senior Events:

Thursday, March 17:

Webber Academy Talent Show

Saturday, March 19:

ADSA’s Alberta Provincial Debate Tournament

Saturday, April 16:

Reach For The Top Provincial Championships

Monday, April 18

President’s Breakfast

Continued

Page 10: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

10 Webber Academy Performing Arts Centre

The following graphs compare the results of Webber Academy’s students to international students. Over-all, the exam tests Critical Reading, Critical Writing and Mathematics.

PSAT Results for Grades Nine To Eleven

Page 11: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

11Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Student of the Month

Every month (excluding December), Webber Academy likes to acknowledge its students who go above and beyond what is academically expected of them. These students often serve as a positive reminder that success is attainable if you stay focused on long-term commitments and self-fulfilling goals.

A big congratulations goes out to our November Student of the Month selections:

Corbin McElhanney 7AJulianne Murphy 7BErin Lee 7CLexi Ahluwalia 8ANad Kilani 8BHaley Meier 8CArjun Nair 9AChristine Kim 9BJoshua Michnowski 9C

A big congratulations goes out to our January Student of the Month selections:

Montserrat Videla 7A Jade Lissel 7BCaitlin MacPhail 7CAndrei Gavrilov 8ALissa Neira 8BMaura Selleck 8CChase Little 9AMonique Leung 9BGabrielle Martin 9C

Student of the Month

Page 12: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

12 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

In Memory of Nicolle Sabine Zaslavsky

Nicolle Sabine Zaslavsky, born November 16, 2001,

graced our school with her presence during her

Senior Kindergarten year with Mrs. Marjorie Sherry’s

class, and for much of her Grade One education

with Mrs. Johnston (nee Imes).

When Nicolle joined Webber Academy in August

2006, her parents had already done everything pos-

sible to prepare their beloved daughter for school life

by instilling strong moral values and encouraging a true

love of learning.

During the Kindergarten admissions parent interview,

Gregory and Elona Zaslavsky were asked what words

they would use to describe their child. They described

Nicolle as, “Curious, smart, sweet, independent,

concerned about others, respectful and sensitive with

an excellent sense of humor.” When asked how they

would characterize her behavior the response on our

records reads, “We were blessed.” Gregory and Elona

also stated, “We support 120% of everything she does.

She is our number one and we want the best for her.”

Her term three Kindergarten report card reads, “Nicolle

has made commendable progress in all areas of the

curriculum with each passing term, showing self-

discipline and diligent work habits. She has proven

to be a responsible, capable student with a solid work

ethic and self-motivating study habits. She makes good

choices socially and extends kindness and consider-

ation to peers. She has been a genuine pleasure to

have in class, a joy to teach and a delightful little girl to

know. Nicolle, you are a credit to your lovely parents.”

Her Grade One report card shows, “Nicolle has made

significant academic and personal growth. She works

hard and appears to be making new friendships in our

classroom. Nicolle’s completed work is wonderful and

her drawings are magical.”

In July 2010, Gregory and Elona Zaslavsky lost their

precious Nicolle to cancer following a courageous

27-month battle with this cruel disease. During this

time, Nicolle touched the lives of many in the health

care profession. In memory of Nicolle, her parents

have established a Memorial Fund with the Faculty of

Medicine at the University of Calgary. Gregory and

Elona explain that Nicolle wanted to become a doc-

tor since the tender age of three and they believe that

by establishing this fund her dream will be realized

in some part through the achievements of others. The

Fund supports a Graduate Student wishing to pursue an

MD specializing in Pediatric Oncology.

Dr. Neil Webber

President & Founder

Page 13: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

13Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

The Legacy Project

The Legacy Project is a Grade Twelve humani-tarian group that started in the fall of 2006. Its focus is for each gradu-ating class to leave a positive and memora-ble impact on society. To make a differ-ence, we wanted to benefit both society

and the environment by recycling items we use daily. By receiving funds from recycling bottles and cans, we have currently raised over $25,000 throughout the 5-year period since this project has started. There is no doubt that this is a significant sum of money, but where and how is the money allocated?

The Legacy Project creates a memorable impact through micro-loans, lent through Kiva. Micro-loans are low interest loans given to “in-need” entrepre-neurs from around the world who do not have access to traditional bank loans. To date, we have made over 142 loans, each approximately $100-$200, to people in Peru, Rwanda, Tajikistan, Philippines, Cambodia, Ukraine, Mexico and many more countries.

In addition to micro-loans, the Legacy Project has also made a $1,000 donation to the Haiti relief fund; this was matched by both local businesses and the govern-ment to raise $4,000. The Legacy Project also contrib-utes to local charitable causes including the Calgary Homeless Teens fund.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank every-one for their contributions and efforts towards making our society a better place and improving the lives of others.

Niyanth NatarajanGrade Twelve Student, Webber Academy

Niyanth Natarajan

Page 14: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

14 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Webber Academy’s Featured Alumni

I can’t believe how fast

time flies. It seems like yes-

terday that we were walking

across Webber Academy’s

stage at graduation, and

now suddenly we are three

years into our university

degrees. By this time next

year, I will be nearing the

completion of my Bachelor

of Commerce at McGill University, with a triple con-

centration in Marketing, Organizational Behaviour and

International Business. It all seems a little bit surreal,

but I have enjoyed every minute of my time at McGill

so far.

One of the highlights of my time here has been my

involvement in Mosaica, McGill’s Dance Company.

We are a group of McGill students, with diverse dance

backgrounds, who put on performances throughout the

year as well as hosting our own year-end showcase.

Through the company, I have made many best friends

at university, and had the opportunity to choreograph

routines each year.

Outside of my dance involvement, I am an employee

of the Residence Life Office at McGill, where I have

worked for two years. As a Residence Life Facilitator, I

act as an advisor to student residence councils by plan-

ning major student body events and allocating budgets.

As well, I assist with the planning surrounding resi-

dence move-in and move-out days, which are some of

the most hectic days of the year in the residence com-

munity. Keeping a job while studying full-time has been

an interesting balancing act, but Webber’s motto really

prepared me for the challenges of university life. When

I came to Montreal, I really was prepared for university

and beyond. This preparation has allowed me to stay

involved with the management faculty on a variety of

levels. This year I was lucky enough to be chosen as an

Organizational Behaviour Course Counselor, a peer-

teaching position where I work in collaboration with

McGill professors to teach the class, “Introduction to

Organizational Behaviour.” Also within the faculty of

management, I will be acting as Co-Chair on CASCO

(Commerce Administration Student Charity Organiza-

tion) next year, an annual fashion show that raises over

$30,000 for the Montreal Children’s Hospital each year.

These are accomplishments and activities that I’ve been

very proud of, and I hope there will be many more to

come. As I type this, I am slowly packing my suitcase

for a trip to India that I will embarking on at the end of

February with Professor Karl Moore, Globe and Mail

Contributor, and over 20 other BCom and MBA stu-

dents from McGill. We were selected from an applicant

pool to participate in the programme, known as Desau-

tel’s 5 Hot Economic Cities of the World Tour. Through

the programme, we will be traveling to Delhi, Mumbai

and Bangalore, learning about the Indian economy, but

also giving back to the community through donations

to the Nanhi Kali charity, a group that funds the educa-

tion of underprivileged girls in India. It will undoubted-

ly be an eye-opening experience, and one that I hope

to remember for a long time.

Speaking of memories, I still have many from Webber

Academy. Memories of the superb teachers and great

Eric Elofsson and Nicholas FitzGerald

Eric Elofsson

Page 15: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

15Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

friends I made over the years. I couldn’t have made it

where I am today without Webber Academy’s strong

foundation, and I’m proud to call myself an alumni.

Eric Elofsson

Bachelor of Commerce Student

McGill University

To follow Eric Elofsson and twenty other BCom and

MBA students from McGill University journey to In-

dia, go to: http://PayItForward.mcgill.ca

You can also watch the 5 Hot Cities trailor, “Are you

in?” at: http://bit.ly/5hotcitiesNicholas FitzGerald

The last eighteen months have been a whirlwind,

and the next year is shaping up to be equally as excit-

ing. It all started with the research I conducted two

summers ago with Dr. Giuseppe Carenini and the

Automatic Summarization group in the Laboratory of

Computational Intelligence at UBC. I combined several

techniques to create a system for automatically summa-

rizing the opinions people express in product reviews -

such as the type you would find on Amazon or Dine-

Here.ca. The paper can be found on my website: nfitz.

net. With this research, I subsequently won the UBC

Computer Science poster competition, and the UBC

Multidisciplinary Undergraduate Research Conference

(MURC). I also presented my paper at the NorthWest

Natural Language Processing workshop at Microsoft

Research in Redmond, WA, and recently, the Business

Intelligence Network Annual General Meeting at IBM

...Continued on page 37

Eric Elofsson and Nicholas FitzGerald

Page 16: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

16 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

The CHWYL Library

continues to be a busy and

popular place, especially with

our Junior High students who

enjoy visiting during their

lunch recess. It is nice to see

Webber Academy students

coming in to read a book

and using the other facilities

available in the library. Did you know that we have a

comprehensive collection of more than 24,000 books

and other items to support and enhance the curricu-

lar needs of the school? We are here to help students

learn skills and develop strategies that will help them at

university and beyond. This can be through help with

finding relevant books and by providing information on

the many online resources that are available. Since the

New Year we have added more than 1,000 books and

DVDs to the library with many of these being reference

books and encyclopedias from World Book.

We hosted a very successful Scholastic Book Fair in

November and the Library was bursting at the seams

with the many students and parents who came to visit.

Over $4,000 of the money fundraised will be used to

buy books for our Elementary classroom libraries.

The Birthday and Celebration Book Programme is

proving to be a popular way for many of you to mark

a memorable occasion for your child. We would like

to make a special thank you to Cacey Lavoie’s family

and friends. Lavoie, who is in Kindergarten, celebrated

her fourth birthday in December. Unlike many other

children her age, she asked for donations to be made

to the Book Programme for her birthday. Some books

were chosen as delightful additions to the Kindercentre

Library.

Many thanks also to everyone who has donated so gen-

erously to the programme. Webber Academy’s CHWYL

Library has managed to raise $2,600 and more than

200 new published and award-winning books have

been added to our library collection.

Audrey Hughes

Library Technician

Some additional library information:

Library Hours: • 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We have a

quick book exchange before school from 8:00 a.m. to

8:15 a.m. and after school from 3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

• There are many online resources which can be

accessed by students outside of school. If you would

like to find out more, please feel free to contact us and

arrange a convenient time for a short demonstration.

• Did you know it is Book Award Month? There are

many great awards with some excellent book nomina-

tions. Visit us in the Library and check out the displays

o For more information, please contact anyone in

the library through our main email: Library@webbera-

cademy.ca, or directly to:

o Marianne Camp [email protected]

o Audrey Hughes [email protected]

CHWYL Library Expands Its Collection

Audrey Hughes

Page 17: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

17Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Birthday Books

Last year in December, Casey Lavoie selflessly asked that childrens’ books be donated to the Book Programme for her birthday

Page 18: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

18 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Junior High Students Write Novellas

In November, several

students in Grade Eight and

Nine English Language Arts

participated in the National

Novel Writing Month, fre-

quently known as NaNo-

WriMo, to write as many as

50,000 words.

Over the past two decades, thousands of adult writers

have participated in NaNoWriMo, spending the dreary

month of November focused on writing a first draft of

their novel. The philosophy is to write as well as you

can, as focused as you can by temporarily silencing

your inner editor who tells you what you wrote is not

good enough.

This year, students in my English classes took part in

the youth program of NaNoWriMo, and set monthly

writing goals of 4,000-50,000 words. All students wrote

for twelve minutes each class and one full hour each

cycle; several students wrote for many more hours

during their lunch hours and at home. Their focus was

admirable.

Thirty-two students registered officially with NaNoW-

riMo, and seventeen of those students exceeded their

goals. Together, these registered students wrote nearly

400,000 words.

An astonishing seven students (see photograph) wrote

more than 20,000 words each. That means they wrote

more than forty pages, single-spaced in a standard 12-

point font. Three students, Chelsea Chan (8B), Aimee

Ferguson (9B), and Bennett Leong (9B) surpassed the

adult goal of 50,000 words. This means they wrote

more than 1,700 words each day.

Students who registered with NaNoWriMo and who

met their goal are able to get a bound copy of their

book. Andrei Gavrilov (8A) has already done just that.

His novella, A Midnight Solstice, is a suspense thriller

featuring a spy named Tom Gordon, who will be a mil-

lion dollars richer if he is successful on his mission. Ul-

timately, what Gordon discovers along the way is much

more valuable. Since then, Gavrilov ordered additional

copies that are now on sale at Amazon.

I hope you join me in congratulating our authors at

Webber Academy. Once they attend university, they

will be more than prepared to write a 4,000-word

paper.

Leanne Shirtliffe

JH English

Andrei Gavrilov poses with his novella, “A Midnight Solstice”d

Leanne Shirtliffe

Page 19: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

19Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

On Wednesday, January

19th, the Grade Two students

had a “hands-on healthy

eating experience!” Nikki

Levson, a registered dietician

with Byblos Bakery, visited all

three Grade Two classrooms

and showed the students how

to use pita bread to create a

quick meal or healthy snack.

This interactive school programme is designed to teach

eating habits consistent with Canada’s Food Guide to

Healthy Eating, and fits perfectly into our Health cur-

riculum.

After watching a short video showing how pita bread is

made, the students then discussed healthy food items

that could be used to fill their pita bread.

During the last part of the presentation, the students

were invited to assemble their own healthy snacks,

with pita breads supplied by Byblo’s Bakery. The stu-

dents had a wide variety of healthy fillings to choose

from - turkey, ham, tomatoes, lettuce, shredded cheese,

cream cheese, cucumbers, and more! These healthy

snacks were so easy to make – and so delicious to eat –

that most of the students went back for seconds!

Ms. Geri Meisinger

Grade Two Homeroom

Healthy Eating Habits

Geri Meisinger

Page 20: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

20 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Living the Hoop Dream

To some, “Fun in the Sun,”

to others, “A dream comes

true!” No matter how you

slice it, the Varsity Boy’s Bas-

ketball trip to California was

one to remember.

On December 12, 2010,

thirteen members of the

Varsity Boy’s Programme, ac-

companied by myself and Mr.

Shawn Lawrence, hit the skies for a tournament in El

Centro, California. The team spent the first three days

in Anaheim where they took in an NBA game, a UCLA

game and spent a day at Knott’s Berry Farm. After that

it was back to some heavy-duty beach style training

in San Diego. The boys faced a difficult task as they

played the opening game of the 16-team tournament

against the host school from El Centro. Thanks to some

terrific defense the boys were able to keep the game

close. However the team ran out of time and lost the

first game by 10 points. Going into the second round

the boys faced what would seem like a more difficult

challenge against Calexico. However, the Wildcats

were not to be outdone and easily matched the pace of

the quick American team. At the end of the game the

boys were able to capture the 10-point victory and put

to rest any doubts about the caliber of our team! The

boys went on to play the next two games at Southwest

High School in a gymnasium that had a 2,700-seat

capacity. The boys played some excellent ball, but fell

short in the final two matches. Was the tournament a

success? The Wildcats are now ranked as the fourth

team in the province for 2A basketball, boasting an

undefeated record in league play — a league that hosts

three of the top eleven teams in Alberta! They won

their first tournament at Queen Elizabeth High School

in the first weekend of January. In fact, their only loss

has been in the finals of the Calgary Basketball Classic

in which they lost by 1 point when the refs waved off

their buzzer-beating basket for the win.

In order for this team to go to California, they had to

put in a tremendous amount of commitment to im-

proving their skills and overall ability to play at a high

level. Throughout the past two years, many of the boys

attended camps and played on various community

or club teams. They played the game daily and spent

many Sundays working with Elementary students in our

D-League X basketball camp, which takes place every

spring. Following their coaching responsibilities, the

boys would gather for two hours and play ball against

alumni athletes. Due entirely to their dedicated effort,

the varsity boys have become one of the best teams to

hit the hardwood at Webber Academy. If all goes well,

this team will continue their winning trend and march

proudly into provincial competition on March 17th.

Everyone is invited to attend these exciting Wildcat

basketball games. For a complete listing of games, you

can log onto Webber Academy’s website and open the

calendar of events.

Joël Chalifoux

Director of Athletics and Physical Education

Joël Chalifoux

Page 21: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

21Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Varsity Boys Team Visits California

Page 22: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Cross Country Skiing

Page 23: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

23Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Snow Much Fun

Page 24: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

24 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Art For Thought

As promised in our previous newsletter, the Grade

Seven Pablo Picasso’s abstract portraits were spectacu-

lar. The class discussed Pablo Picasso’s famous works

and the students analyzed each other’s portraits by

looking at shape and proportion.

The French artist, Henri Matisse and his famous colour-

ful paper cutouts inspired the Grade Seven students in

their more recent 3D project. The students created 3D

letters to spell each artists’ name. Well done, Grade

Seven students, on a great first term in Junior High Art!

The Grade Eight students’ recent ceramics projects

were very successful, and the Pop Art movement from

the 1960’s was their inspiration. Students created

popular food or drink items in clay. Earlier in the term,

Grade Eight used the linoleum printing technique to

create very interesting and intricate patterns. I am very

impressed with your achievements this term, Grade

Eight students!

Enthusiasm at the prospect of creating large 1960’s im-

ages in oil pastel inspired the Grade Nine Art students.

The students researched different aspects of 1960’s

culture and presented this information to the class. As a

result, the students produced excellent 1960’s imagery.

Currently underway is a project inspired by graffiti art.

In the process of designing their graffiti art the students

discussed and analyzed the work of popular graffiti

artists.

“Distortion” was the theme for Art 10 portraits earlier in

the term and the students completed research on how

various artists use distortion in their work. Exercises

on blending and mixing colours using acrylics, was

another aspect of the project.

The Principles of Design was the main criteria for their

recent Poinsettia plant assignment. Before winter break,

the Art 20’s theme was “Repetition” and the students

incorporated this into their silkscreen print. They are

currently working on oversized 3D caricatures. I have

been trying to inspire Art 30 students to “loosen up”

with their technique and in the process they were in-

spired by a young Irish artist, Róisín O’Farrell.

Great job to all our Art students!

Patricia Fullerton, JH/SH Art

Jean Montgomery, Elementary/JH Art

Patricia Fullerton Jean Montgomery

Page 25: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

25Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Winter Themes and Snowy Scenes

Mrs. Jean Montgomery shares charcoal sketches from her Grade Six class

Natasha Neweduk, 6C Leigh Hauck, 6C Kaela Ants, 6C

Daniel Dobson, 6C Allison Tam, 6C Sang Hyun Park, 6C

Adam Charanek, 6C Rory Mills, 6C James Symonds, 6C

Page 26: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

26 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Junior and Senior High Artwork

Jane Liao, Grade NinePointillism

Alexandra Hripkro, Grade ElevenSilkscreen painting

Mahta Samani, Grade Nine

1960’s theme

Sarah Li, Grade Eight3D Art

Brittany Prokop, Grade TenDistortion

Page 27: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

27Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Talent Show at Webber Academy

WEBBER ACADEMY TALENT SHOW 2011 !!When: Thursday, March 17thTime: 4:00 pmWhere: Third Floor

*AUDITIONS HELD ON MARCH 8th-10th in the Band Room*Open to students in grades 7-12*See Mr. Grant Boyko to sign up for an audition time slot

!radua"on FUNDRAISER

TICKETS $10

Page 28: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

28 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Webber Academy’s Performing Arts Centre

Drama students and teachers excited about new venue

The benefits of the new

Performing Arts Centre are

numerous. It will provide a

great meeting place for school

assemblies and for guest speak-

ers. Moreover, it demonstrates

commitment to the Fine Arts

and how important the Fine

Arts are to Webber Academy

and its students.

For the Drama department, there are even greater op-

portunities. Currently our performance space is also

our classroom and rehearsal space. This has limited the

number of events we can hold because performances

disrupt classes. The Senior High programme has

rehearsed for their shows for most of the year, and the

Junior High has created shows for classroom perfor-

mances.

When the new theatre is built, the Junior and Senior

High students will have their own classrooms for

rehearsals. With many different groups rehearsing on

the stage, we can utilize the space for many Performing

Arts purposes.

We will have two fabulous classrooms, equipped with

mirrors which will enable us to teach more masque

work, movement and dance. Currently, we have been

working on a concrete floor, but soon we will have safe

floors for our movement and dance exercises. We will

also have lighting and sound capabilities in the new

Fine Arts classrooms. More importantly, we now have a

dedicated Junior High Drama classroom, with com-

plete storage for props and other drama supplies. We

will have a dedicated Senior High Drama classroom

with a conference area. In addition, there will be a

computer space for conducting research and designing

posters and programmes. Additionally, we will have

proper change rooms and lockers.

The theatre will offer its audience refreshment areas,

a proper lobby and a box office. Stage curtains that

will adjust to the size of the stage needed for an event,

a scrim to create effects, and a cyclorama — a white

background at the back of the theatre that will create

lighting effects such as sunrises and battle scenes —

will add a realistic dimension to student performances.

The theatre was also designed to incorporate acoustics,

which will make it easier to hear solo singers. We will

have wonderful microphones for projection, and sound

capabilities for sound cues. Furthermore, with the help

of Mr. Grant Boyko, our new Theatre Manager, we

should be able to create wonderful lighting designs.

The 500-seat Performing Arts Center will also help

Webber Academy accommodate larger audiences.

Deborah Ferguson

JH/SH Drama

Deborah Ferguson

Page 29: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

29Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Construction Update

Construction on Webber

Academy’s new Performing

Arts Centre is successfully

progressing. In recent weeks,

we have seen structural steel

above the ground, additional

concrete being poured, and

the arrival of the foundation

blocks. The facility is truly

beginning to take shape.

The Performing Arts Centre is scheduled to open this

fall, and will consist of a 500-seat theatre, two drama

classrooms for Junior and Senior High, a band class-

room, a choir classroom, an Elementary music class-

room, and a multi-media production space. As Web-

ber Academy’s Resident Theatre Manager, I am certain

that the new centre will represent a giant step forward

in the caliber of Fine Arts education at our school. In

addition, the theatre will contribute to the greater Cal-

gary Arts community, being made available for rental

and public events during off-school hours.

Webber Academy’s Theatre Capital Campaign is still

ongoing. Members of our community have an opportu-

nity to make a tax-deductable donation to the project,

and in doing so are able to acquire the naming rights to

various components of the facility, ranging from pairs

of seats, to each of the classrooms and to the theatre.

Please contact Mr. Lorne Webber (lwebber@webbera-

cademy.ca) if you wish to participate in our campaign.

You can also follow the progress of the theatre on

Webber Academy’s website, which is updated regularly

with new construction photos.

Grant Boyko, Performing Arts Centre Manager &

Advancement Administrator

Grant Boyko

Page 30: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

30 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Musical Notes

The band students went

on their annual music retreat

to Camp Caroline on Febru-

ary 2nd to February 4th. They

learned a great deal from their

clinicians and guest conductor

and had a lot of fun in their

recreational time. The camp

also served as a great opportu-

nity for the Junior High bands to prepare for the festival

season.

I would like to take this opportunity to express how

fortunate we are to have several students representing

Webber Academy in two different honour bands. Con-

gratulations to Chelsea Chan, Katie Dong, Joshua Fehr-

Twaddle, Andrei Gavrilov, Bennett Leong and Morris

Smith for being selected as members of the Southern

Alberta Regional Honour Band, sponsored by the

Alberta Band Association. Congratulations also go out

to Edward Shin, Jessica Gray and Lexi Wilson for being

selected to represent Webber Academy in the Southern

Alberta International Band Festival High School Hon-

our Band. Well done!

Brent Pierce

Director of Music

Junior students at Camp Caroline

Brent Pierce

Page 31: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

31Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Mandarin Workshop in China

I was very pleased to be invited to attend a unique,

educational workshop in China as a guest of Hanban

and Confucius Headquarters last November. The

programme is called the 2010 Advanced Study and

Training Program on Pedagogy and Chinese Teach-

ing Materials, and was organized by The Office of

Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) /

Confucius Institute Headquarters. More than 2,000

Chinese language educators from around the world

attended the workshop at different locations in China

from November 17th to November 23, 2010. This

week-long programme was specifically designed for

Chinese language educators to strengthen their Chinese

programmes and enhance their networking.

The focus of the programme was pedagogy, Chinese

teaching materials, classroom audits and best prac-

tices. We had a chance to meet and connect with

other educators and learn about the latest and most

advanced teaching resources, which include new print

and electronic resources.

It was amazing to see China have so many well-

developed teaching materials available and further

entice people interested to learn Chinese. I have been

to China with Webber Academy students three times in

the past few years, and felt changes in China with each

trip. I take great pride in showing to our students this

great and magnificent country. Educational trips give

me the impression that China and its people are trying

their best to communicate with the rest of the world by

sharing their language and culture and striving towards

economic cooperation.

A major benefit that Webber Academy provides is its

Mandarin programme, which teaches children Chinese

at a young age. I strongly believe learning Mandarin is

a huge advantage for students who can apply a second

language to their personal lives and careers. By attend-

ing educational workshops like this one more fre-

quently, I am confident Webber Academy will continue

to provide teaching materials that make our Mandarin

programme more interesting and appealing to new-

comers. I have shared information and resources with

the Mandarin department, and I look forward to using

the new techniques and resources in our classes.

Thank you very much for supporting the Mandarin

program at Webber Academy!

Joyce Ma

JH/SH Mandarin Teacher

Joyce Ma

Page 32: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

32 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Chinese New Year Celebration

Once again, Webber

Academy’s Mandarin depart-

ment had another successful

turnout for its Chinese New

Year celebration. The event,

which primarily took place in

our Elementary School Gym-

nasium on February 9, 2011,

attracted over 200 families

who were eager to engage in

various forms of live entertainment.

Lion dancing, music, balloon animal entertainment,

student performances, a magic show, and a delicious

Chinese buffet were among the many attractions this

year. Guests also had the opportunity to buy a variety

of Chinese gifts and raffle tickets for three different

draw prizes.

It was very nice to see that our students were eager to

dress in their traditional Chinese clothing. Even Dr. Neil

Webber fully embraced the Chinese New Year by greet-

ing the audience with a friendly, “Happy New Year!” in

Mandarin.

Lion Dancing

Dr. Neil Webber and Mrs. Jemmie Silver

Grade Five students sing and dance to the Chinese

children song, “Ni Wa Wa”

Chinese martial arts

Morgan Haigler

A special thank you goes out to all the students, par-

ents, staff and volunteers who made our Chinese New

Year celebration a night to remember! We could not

have done it without you!

Webber Academy would also like to express its appre-

ciation to Mr. Grant Boyko, our Performing Arts Centre

Manager, for helping with the stage set-up and sound.

Mr. Rod Wasylenko, our Facilities Manager, was also a

tremendous help throughout the entire evening.

Page 33: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

33Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Iron Science Teacher Challenge

Mr. Jamie Burla Mrs. Jennifer Parker

It brings Webber Academy a great deal of pleasure to

announce that Mrs. Jennifer Parker was the first runner-

up in last month’s Iron Science Teacher Challenge. The

Senior Science and Biology Teacher, who admitted a bit

of nervousness before entering the competition, ended

up wowing Jay Ingram, the Host of the Daily Planet

Show, with her perfect execution of separate chemical

reactions. Mrs. Parker’s presentation turned out to be

an interesting mix of air pressure experiments. It even

involved her riding a hovercraft she built with her eight-

year-old daughter.

Her challenger, Mr. Jamie Burla of Calgary’s Rundle

College, was the winner of the 2011 Regional Playoff

competition. His six minutes of science presentation

demonstrated how electrical sensors, once placed on

either end of a salted pickle, conduct strong electrical

current.

For Mrs. Parker, it is still a rewarding feeling to receive

an honourable mention and be part of a huge, televised

event. You don’t always have to make first place to be

noticed or be proud of what you have accomplished.

“I think it’s a great opportunity in that it forces you to

take something and make it exciting,” said Mrs. Parker.

“There are a lot of ways to present material and some-

times we need to think outside the textbook to make it

more engaging for students.”

Dave Kelly, former Host of CityTV’s The Breakfast

Show, undoubtedly brought the entire event to life with

his sharp wit and magnetic personality. It was also a

real treat to have Jan Ingram address our guests who

were easily amused by his comments on the Iron Sci-

ence Teacher Challenge.

Edmonton’s science teacher contestants, Nathan

Koelmans of St. Joseph Catholic High School and Taryn

Sutherlan of Mckernan School, also deserve special

mention for the work they contributed.

For Mr. Burla, the competition is far from over. Next

he will compete with other regional finalists in the

national competition on Friday, March 11, 2011. This

time Jay Ingram will host the event at the University

of Calgary from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Webber Academy

will keep you informed about the Discovery Channel’s

show time for The Iron Science Teacher challenge once

it becomes available.

Morgan Haigler

Communications Coordinator

Page 34: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

34 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Iron Science Teacher Challenge

Dr. Neil Webber welcomes competitors

and special guests

Students participate in Hard Boiled or Raw Egg Contest

Katrina Brazzell volunteers to operate one of the cameras

Dave Kelly investigates whether differ-

ent objects sink or float in water

Jay Ingram and Dave Kelly

Dave Kelly quizzes Webber Academy Students

Page 35: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

35Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Pick me, pick me! Students eagerly raise their hands to try a few

science experiments

Jamie Burla connects pickle to wired sensors

Below: Students rush to get Jay

Ingram’s autograph

Jennifer Parker rides her hovercraft

Taryn Sutherland explains the

importance of neurons

Iron Science Teacher Competitor Nathan

Koelmans wows students with his presentation

Page 36: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

36 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

President’s Breakfast

Please join us on Monday, April 18th, 2011 in the

main Gymnasium at Webber Academy at 8:00 a.m.

for the school’s annual President’s Breakfast.

The President’s Breakfast Club presents “The Gaza

Doctor” and Best Selling author, Dr. Izzeldin Abue-

laish. Dr. Abuelaish will share his life journey and

describe the ways in which he is continuously striving

to win the fight for peace in the Middle East. His grip-

ping story of the loss of his niece and three daughters

to the Israeli bombing in Gaza will give students, staff

and guests, a sentimental understanding of self deter-

mination and motivation.

Abuelaish believes his personal tragedy will serve

a greater purpose for those seeking to make a posi-

tive difference in the world. This is an opportunity for

listeners to truly reflect and better understand how

an optimistic outlook on life can create wonderful

change.

Please note that ticket order forms will be sent home

in early March.

President’s Breakfast

Monday, April 18, 2011

Doors open at 7:45 a.m.

Tickets:

Adults: $30

Alumni: $15

Corporate Table for six: $250

Webber Academy Senior School Students: FREE

Page 37: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

37Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Webber Academy’s Featured Alumni

Nicholas Fitzgerald – continued from page 15

in Toronto.

As a result of my success at UBC MURC, I was award-

ed a trip to Australia to participate in the Universitas 21

Undergraduate Research Conference last July. I spent

two weeks in Australia – traveling around Sydney and

Port Macquarie for ten days before heading down to

Melbourne for the conference. In Sydney I saw Eng-

land play Australia at rugby, and saw Sir Ian McKellan

in “Waiting for Godot” at the Sydney Opera House!

The conference itself was an amazing experience, with

sixty delegates from twenty-three schools worldwide,

engaged in research on a wide array of topics. I was

awarded “Most Imaginative Research”, as voted on by

the participants.

Recently, I submitted another paper to the Canadian

Conference for Artificial Intelligence, which will take

place in St. John, Newfoundland this summer. I am

waiting to hear if that paper has been accepted.

The first term of this, my last year of undergraduate,

was largely taken up by applying to PhD programmes.

This is a lengthy and exhausting process, but in the end

I applied to ten different programmes, all in the United

States. I applied either to Computer Science or to Cog-

nitive Science, depending on the school. So far, I have

been accepted to the University of Washington and the

University of Michigan. I am still waiting to hear back

from five schools (MIT, Berkeley, CMU, Brown and

Rennsellaer); however, I am fairly certain at this point

that I will go to the University of Michigan, because it

has the most faculty engaged in the kind of research I

want to do. I hope to work with John Laird, co-pioneer

(along with Allen Newell and Paul Rosenbloom) of the

SOAR cognitive architecture for general intelligence.

In addition to my research, I still pursue opera. For the

last year, I have been singing with the Vancouver Acad-

emy of the Music Opera programme, participating in

their term scene-studies. I have also had various roles:

Ottone in “L’incoronazione di Poppea”, and Pandolfe

in “Cendrillon” this past summer. Most recently, I re-

turned to my roots as Sir Joseph in the UBC Gilbert and

Sullivan Society’s production of “HMS Pinafore”.

Nicholas Fitzgerald

Cognitive Systems

University of British of Columbia

FitzGerald in front of the Sydney Opera House

Page 38: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

38 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

Parent Survey Results

Quality of Education (Overall Satisfaction)

Amount of Homework

Overall, how satisfied are you with the

quality of education that your child is

receiving at Webber Academy?

Concerning the amount of homework

your child receives on a nightly basis,

do you think he/she gets:

Too much •

A lot but manageable•

Just right•

Not enough•

Page 39: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in

39Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter

2010-2011

Academic, Social and Teamwork Skills

Safe and Secure Environment

Webber Academy offers a safe and

secure environment for your child?

The academic, social and teamwork

skills your child is receiving will

enhance his/her life upon graduation

from high school?

Page 40: WEBBER ACADEMY Newsletter layout.pdf · 22 Webber Academy Winter 2011 Newsletter Winter 2011 Newsletter About Webber Academy Our School Mission is to prepare students to thrive in