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LOOKING AHEAD
Thornhill Secondary School
PAW PRINTS
VOLUME 7 ISSUE 4 June 2016
INSIDE Page(s) Registration Information 2
Geography Department 3
Visit Barcelona & Madrid 4
English Department 4
Message from Trustee 4
Staffing Changes 2016-2017 5
Chess Team Championship 6
Science Department News 7
Mathematics Corner 9
History Department 11
Family Studies Department 12
Visual Arts Department 12
Tech Department 12
Special Education 12
Co-op Education 14
Business Department 15
Thornhill Athletic Council 17
Guidance Department 19
Candidate Nomination Form 20
August 30 Registration/Photo Day September 7 First Day Grades10-12 September 15 School Council September 20 Post-Sec Info Day September 26 PA Day September 28 Terry Fox/Carnival September 30 Photo Retake Day
Thornhill Secondary School 167 Dudley Avenue
Thornhill, ON L3T 2E5
Telephone: 905.889.5453 Fax: 905.889.0360
Website: http://thornhill.ss.yrdsb.ca
Administration David McAdam, Principal
Sandy Kofalvi, Vice-Principal Georgia Vatousis, Vice-Principal
Superintendent of Schools Rashmi Swarup
Trustee Susan Geller
School Council Co-Chairs Susan Eaton and Shirley Porjes Gupta
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE This newsletter marks the close of another school year at Thornhill Secondary School. On behalf of the Administration Team, I extend thanks to all members of our school community. Congratulations on a marvellous job! To our students: we applaud you on your accomplishments in academics, the arts, sports, technological studies, extra-curricular pursuits, and in community and leadership development. You have capitalized on the many opportunities to learn and grow, and have applied yourself for your own advancement and for the betterment of our extended community. Thanks for doing your part, as individuals of character, to make our school a safer, more inclusive and respectful learning community. Hats off to you, especially to the Class of 2016! To our parents: you have continued to play a pivotal role as educational partners, supporting the development of our Tigers! Your ongoing guidance, advocacy and assistance to increase student success are highly valued. A special ‘thank you’ to members of the School Council for your commitment to continuous improvement at TSS! To our community partners: many thanks for your spirit of charity and for linking arms with us to more holistically equip our students as 21st century learners. To our school staff: I applaud you for your commitment to the growth of our students, including what you do to make sure that they learn all they can every day. Thank you to the Cafeteria Staff, Caretakers, Educational Assistants, Secretaries, Teaching Faculty, and Technicians for your teamwork and optimism as we continually strive for excellence. I also extend special congratulations and well wishes to staff members who are on the move. Please see “Staffing Changes for 2016-2017” in this newsletter for more details. As we close another chapter in our school’s history, I am grateful for our individual and collective achievement. I am also anticipating the new or extended opportunities that await us. The School Improvement Plan (S.I.P.) will keep on guiding our decisions and actions to enrich the quality of education at Thornhill. Aligned with the York Region District School Board, our S.I.P. incorporates three main foci: Modern Learning, Math Literacy, and Mental Health and Wellbeing. These are harnessed within the framework of Leadership Development, Innovation and Equity. I am confident that our camaraderie and resiliency will sustain Thornhill’s success as we focus further on these areas. A safe, healthy and happy summer to you and your family! Sincerely, David A. McAdam.
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 2
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
In accordance with Ministry of Education guidelines, schools will not charge fees for supplies relating to coursework that is
necessary to meet graduation requirements, e.g. French workbooks, Family Studies food labs. The Fees Guidelines allows
schools to charge fees for enhanced materials, i.e. enrichments beyond what is necessary to meet curriculum expectations
such as: certifications; Iron Chef Competition; art kit; cedar wood in construction; and field trips. In classes that charge for
enhancements, you will receive a letter from the teacher detailing what the fee covers. Payment of the enhancement fee is
voluntary.
In addition, fees can be charged for participating in extra-curricular activities such as sports teams, clubs, dances,
graduation, etc. Our School Activity Fee serves to engage students in the broader school community by providing a wide
range of opportunities that occur before school, at lunch and after school. Monies collected will cover or subsidize the cost
of various extra-curricular activities in clubs, teams, sports, and student groups such as the Students’ Council. These
groups, events and activities build school spirit and enrich the learning experience beyond the classroom and the
designated subject curriculum. This is an important element in building and strengthening the sense of community at TSS.
With the payment of the Student Activity Fee, students receive discounts for various events, e.g.,.Semi-formal and Prom.
TIME FOR A BRAIN BREAK
In support of our students’ mental health and well-being, our Library now offers activities to give our youth a break from the academic rigours of the day. Students have had a lot of fun completing Sudoku Puzzles, Crosswords, Mazes, Colouring, Jigsaw Puzzles and the VERY POPULAR Peg Solitaire. Look for new additions this fall!
Parents are advised that students should bring sufficient funds to cover registration fees and physical
education uniforms. Cheques are to be made payable to Thornhill Secondary School. A $20 NSF charge
will be added to all cheques returned to the school. There is also a cash on-line option at
https://yrdsb.schoolcashonline.com/
We cannot accept credit or debit cards. Registration Day will be on Tuesday, August 30th
from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Timetables will be distributed and photos will be taken. Thank you.
SCHOOL TIMETABLE
PERIOD 1 8:35 9:50
OPENING EXERCISES 9:50 9:55
PERIOD 2 10:00 11:15
PERIOD 3 11:20 12:35
PERIOD 4 12:40 1:55
PERIOD 5 2:00 3:15
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM 1 3:20 4:35
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM 2 4:40 5:55
STUDENT FEES:
Student Activity Fee
Student Council Activities, Clubs, Speakers, Carnival, Spirit Days, Sports Teams, School
Newspaper, Dances …
$ 45.00
Student Price Card (SPC) for retail discounts at student-price
$ 10.00
School Yearbook . . .Every student is encouraged to purchase a yearbook. $ 40.00
Physical Education Uniform (mandatory)
. . . . shorts only . . . . shirt only
TSS Athletic Attire must be worn by all students enrolled in Physical Education courses
$ 25.00
$ 12.00 $ 14.00
Grade 12 s only—Graduation Package—June 28, 2017
includes cap, gown, 4 tickets, refreshments, decorations, venue and printing costs
$ 75.00
Student Agenda Planner (optional) $ 5.00
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 3
Geography Department
“You, too, can see the world differently” National Geographic Society Welcome Geographers! We have come to the close of another exciting yet busy school y e a r . On behalf of the department, we would like to greatly thank Ms. Karapici who joined the “team” at the start of the semester. We would also like to extend our gratitude to Mrs. Marum for her expertise and dedication (and “gummy worms”) over the years in the Department and wish her the very best in her upcoming retirement! Grade 9 Geographers have been discussing key industry and resource management issues such as: freshwater and controversial energy sources such as hydrological fracturing. Students had the opportunity to learn from guest speakers in the renewable energy industry and City of Markham urban planners. In May, the Grade 9 Geography classes embarked on a walking tour to observe the revitalized communities of Regent Park, Cabbagetown and St. Lawrence Market (south).
By the end of the course, Grade 9 students then took on role of “urban planners” as they examined the local community and problem-solved how to re-design their communities to be more livable and sustainable. Students in the Grade 11 Travel and Tourism course have been busy “virtually” exploring emerging destinations in Southeast Asia, taking an African safari and examining recent issues and impacts facing the global tourism industry. Students also explored popular local destinations on their Great Tour of Toronto field trip! The students finished the course by planning a responsible tourism excursion to many unique world destinations. Pack your bags!
Grade 12 World Issues students have been researching, analyzing and discussing global resource issues such as food, freshwater and climate change. Students have also been examining global population trends, patterns and issues such as urbanization. Students concluded the course with their globalization debates as well as the “screening” of their own documentaries that informed and raised awareness among our global citizens. We wish all our students and their families a wonderful, safe and restful summer! See you in September!
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 4
English Department The English Department at Thornhill Secondary is constantly trying to create
curriculum that is innovative, exciting and appeals to all students. Since our
student population holds a variety of interests, we have created compulsory
and elective courses that appeal to many of the students’ interests. We are
proud to say that the Grade 11 University English for English Language
Learners (ENG3UL) will be offered at TSS next year to support success for
all. The Grade 11 Open Presentation and Speaking Skills Course
(EMS3O1) enables students to examine and use the various skills necessary
to present and speak effectively. Also, grade 12 Writers’ Craft (EWC4U1)
is also popular with its workshop environment for students to creatively
manipulate language and read each other’s work.
Department members are committed to providing students with quality instruction that encourage them to
become critical thinkers and problem-solvers. Our focus is on student-centered learning and other
differentiated learning strategies. In addition, we strive to develop and maximize student learning skills and
work habits by emphasizing process and awareness of learning through metacognitive assessment.
It has been a wonderful year of learning in 2015-2016. Congratulations to all students on their efforts and
successes. For recommended summer reading, ask
your English teacher for their top picks!
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 5
Message from our Trustee As the school year comes to a close, I would like to thank you for all that you have done to help make this school year a successful one for our students. We share a common goal - to give our young people every opportunity to reach their full potential, and we all have a role to play in supporting that goal. However you choose to get involved, your engagement and support make a difference. We know that good schools become better schools when they are connected with families. Thanks to the ongoing efforts of our students, families, staff members and community partners, we are creating a welcoming, caring and inclusive learning environment that fosters student achievement and well-being. As we move into summer, I encourage you to seek out opportunities to continue and complement the learning that takes place throughout the school year. That could mean taking a nature walk, visiting a museum or reading a book. Whatever your plans are over the next few months, I hope you have a safe, relaxing and enjoyable summer.
STAFFING CHANGES FOR 2016-2017 Congratulations, thanks and best wishes to the following staff members who are on the move:
Ms S. Kofalvi, VP – to Vaughan Secondary School Ms N. Carroll – Semester Two teacher, back to Newmarket High School
Ms M. Del Bianco - on leave for the school year Ms K. Kamarhie—Long Term Occasional Teacher
Ms A. Karapici—Long Term Occasional Teacher Mr E.Leung—Semester Two teacher, back to Huron Heights Secondary School
Mr M. MacLean—Ed Assistant on leave next year Ms L. Mandatori - on leave for the school year
Mr G. Monteith—Long Term Occasional Teacher Ms P. Nasmith – on leave for the school year Mr M. Pich—Long Term Occasional Teacher
Ms H. Satchi—Long Term Occasional Teacher Mr S. Shacklady – Semester Two teacher, off to
Tommy Douglas Secondary School Ms S. Strachan—Long Term Occasional Teacher
Ms N. Vella-Geldart—Long Term Occasional Teacher Ms E. Welch—Long Term Occasional Teacher
A fond farewell to Mr H. Belman, Ms M. DiLorenzo, Ms M. Lingeman, Ms M. Marum, Ms K. Meema and Mr I. Thomson. Together, they have served Thornhill for a total of 150 years. We thank you for your contributions to public education, and for your
devoted service to our students. All the best for a happy retirement! We welcome: Ms J. Anderson—from Alexander MacKenzie High School
Ms C. D’Angelo—from Sutton District High School Mr K. Ganeshalingham—VP, from Milliken Mills High School
Mr P. Naccarato-from Richmond Green Secondary School Mr B. Salavati—from Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School
Mr W. Schwan—from Thornlea Secondary School Mr T. Tam – from Milliken Mills High School
Ms A. Tsatsos—from Bur Oak Secondary School Ms R. Weinberg - from Stephen Lewis Secondary School
WELCOME, FAREWELL & HAPPY RETIREMENT
PAGE 6 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
Girls Run for It! Running/Walking Program You did it! By participating in the SHOPPERS LOVE. YOU. Run for Women, you supported the women in our community who face mental health
challenges and, made a difference to your own mental health by running, walking and talking in this year’s event. Research has proven a positive link between exercise and mental health so continue to run it out, walk it out, and talk it out. It’s just one more way you can LOVE. YOU. Congratulations to all the Thornhill girls who participated in this 6 week program!
CHESS TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP The Thornhill Secondary School Chess Team is again the Ontario high school chess team champion; and by the slimmest of margins, TSS came in second place at the national (Ontario-Quebec) high school chess team championships. These two annual events are run by the national Chess ’n Math Association. At the Ontario championships held in Toronto on May 29, there were 3 fairly closely rated teams at the top – perennial chess powerhouse UTS (University of Toronto Schools) rated #1, TSS rated #2, and Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute rated #3. Final standings were:
TSS – 4 team wins, 1 loss, 1 tie, out of 6 team matches. Marc Garneau CI – 4 team wins, 2 losses. UTS – 3 team wins, 2 losses, 1 tie.
At the national championships held in Kingston on June 4, there were 7 teams that were fairly evenly rated on paper. Final standings were:
Jean-de-Brebeuf-Nicolas Metivier – 4 wins, 1 loss, out of 5 team matches. TSS – 3 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie. Notre Dame – Thierry Libersan “A” team (an all girls team) – 3 wins, 1 loss, 1 tie.
In two key match-ups against Jean-de-Brebeuf and JB Tyrell, if TSS had gotten just one extra half game point (one game drawn instead of lost, or one game won instead of drawn), on any of two or three boards, TSS would have finished in first place. Every team member made a significant contribution to the TSS team performance – the team (left to right in photo) consisted of:
Mark Plotkin (Grade 12) on board 1 (plays the #1 player from every other team) – rated #1 in Canada for scholastic chess for Grade 12 – was the team’s top performer, scoring 9 points in 11 games against the toughest opponents.
Stephen Ye (Grade 12) on board 2 – scored 7 points out of 11 games, including one key upset win over UTS. Melissa Giblon (Grade 11) on board 3 – twice national youth girls champion, scored 5 points out of 11 games, including one
key upset win over UTS. Alyssa Rusonik (Grade 10) on board 4 – scored 8.5 points out of 11
games, to consistently deliver important game points. Melissa and Alyssa are also members of the school debate team, and the Debate Club Executive for next school year. This is the second year in a row that TSS upset #1 rated University of Toronto Schools (UTS), and the third time in the past four years that TSS has become Ontario champions. Past TSS Ontario champion team members included David Itkin, Ben Blium, Stephen Ye, Rebecca Giblon and Mark Plotkin.
Fantastic!
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 7
Science Department News Mental Health Awareness Week – Sensory Science During the first week of May students had the opportunity to learn about
colours, scents and mood by making lavender silly putty and peppermint play dough among other activities offered after school by the science department.
Scientists involved in a relatively new field of study called colour psychology have determined that colour has a strong impact on how we feel, how we think, how to calm the mind, and even how much we eat.
Green is a colour that inspires peace and tranquility. Blue emits a sense of calm and well -being. Purple in all shades has a calming mental effect.
Over the course of human evolutionary history, scents served as clues to our ancestors about the nature of people and things in their environment. As a result, we have evolved responses to many scents. Aroma therapists believe the naturally occurring scent of orange makes people happier and that lavender calms the mind. Aromatherapy is the practice of using volatile plant oils, including essential oils, for psychological and physical well-being.
Think about what you could do to help reduce your stress. Do you…get enough sleep? …avoid procrastination? …ask for help? …have a
hobby? What else could you do to help yourself reduce the stress in your life?
York Region Science Olympics Results Congratulations to the Thornhill Science Olympics teams that placed 2
nd
overall in York Region! The annual York Region Science Olympics hosted at Seneca at York has students working in teams in 3 separate events in Chemistry, Biology and Physics. This year all of our students were medal winners! The Junior A team came 2
nd
in the chemistry event, the Junior B team came first in the Physics event and came 2nd
overall of all the junior teams. In the senior division, the Senior A team placed 3
rd in the
biology event and the Senior B team came 1st in the biology and came 2
nd overall of all
the senior teams. Overall, the combined scores for the junior and senior teams placed them 2
nd in Chemistry and 4
th in Biology.
The team also won the coveted Spirit A w a r d f o r s p o r t s m a n s h i p (sciencemanship?), themed T-shirts designed by Benya Sutyanyong, and their cheer which they sang and danced to with great enthusiasm. Thanks to Ms Taylor, Ms Meema and Mr.
Thomson for helping make the day
possible.
PAGE 8 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
Transit of Mercury On May 9
th, 2016, astronomers and the public
across Canada gazed up at the Sun to witness Mercury transiting the Sun. During this rare phenomenon the planet Mercury takes about 7 hours to cross the face of the Sun. About 200 students and staff at TSS were lucky enough to
see it and marvel at the miniscule size of Mercury in comparison to the giant disc of the Sun! The next transit is in 2019, and then we have to wait until 2049 to see it again from
Ontario.
Ms Meema and her 8” telescope with a solar filter
that helped students and staff look safely at the sun.
Miss Satchi’s Chemistry
Class views the Sun
CONGRATULATIONS & HAPPY RETIREMENT
TO MS MEEMA AND MR THOMSON!
From: SCIENCE DEPT.
MUSIC TRIP TO CUBA!! ATTENTION STUDENTS ENROLLED
IN THE 2016/17 MUSIC PROGRAM:
JOIN US FOR A PERFORMANCE TRIP TO
HAVANA, CUBA November 12
th – 19
th, 2016
For further information, contact
In June, our grade nine students took part in the EQAO Test. All students working towards a Grade 9
Academic or Applied credit are required to participate in the EQAO Test. These tests evaluate how well
students are meeting the expectations of the Grade 9 Academic or Applied Mathematics courses from The
Ontario Curriculum. Our focus on Numeracy continues as we strive to improve Mathematical Success.
What a great year this was for TSS and the Math Department! Another successful year for our Mathematics
Department at TSS, ranking within the top 16 schools in Canada in the University of Waterloo Math Contests
for grades 9, 10 and 11. Next year we will continue to prepare our students to succeed in high school,
university and college, and to apply what they learn to their future careers.
The Math Department. wishes our graduating students all the best in their future endeavors. It has been our
pleasure watching you grow and reaching this milestone. Our best wishes to everyone!
The Mathematics and Statistics Committee of the Atlantic Provinces Committee on the Sciences has put
together a booklet that contains many sample questions and hints to help you prepare for University Calculus.
(http://cs.smu.ca/apics/calculus/ welcome.php)
“ Pure mathematics is the world's best game. It is more absorbing than chess,
more of a gamble than poker, and lasts longer than Monopoly. It's free and can be played anywhere. ”
TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 PAGE 9
PAGE 10 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
Science Competition Results
The results from the University of Toronto National Biology Competition are in! The Thornhill team placed an
amazing 8th overall in Canada out of 263 schools. The teams members were: Terry So, who placed in the top
0.5% of students, won a prestigious monetary award and is named National Biology Scholar with Distinction,
and Max Li, Hershel Ruskin and Yael Lewis who all placed within the top 5% of the 3195 participating
students in Canada and are designated as National Biology Scholars. Way to go team! Congratulations to all
the participants for their fine work in biology all year!
Science Department offers a big congratulations to Ron Alesker for placing in the 99th percentile in the University of Waterloo International Avogadro Chemistry Contest. This translates to 47th place out of over 4000 students! Ron is especially commended for his achievement as he has not yet completed any senior chemistry courses in high school. For his achievement he receives an Outstanding Achievement Elemental Tile and a Certificate of Distinction. We would also like to congratulate the following students: Adam Silverman, Max Li, Alvin Lee, Rachel Lysenko, Ben Levy, Daniel Chen, Alon Djurinsky, Yoav Arbiv, Alexander Lee, Elinor Feigis, and Ryan Ho who all placed in the top 20% in North America and each will receive a
Certificate of Achievement. Thanks to everyone who wrote – we hope that you will all participate in the Grade 12 Chemistry Contest next year.
In the University of Waterloo International Grade 12 Chemistry Contest Frederick Mei earned an Outstanding Achievement Elemental Tile and Certificate of Distinction for placing in the top 10% in North America. Erik Sadul, Alex Wong and Karin Saltoun all earned Certificates of Achievement for their top 20% placements.
The University of Waterloo Sir Isaac Newton for Physics contest was written by students from a variety of grades. Congratulations to Yaniv Khaslavsky for placing first at Thornhill Secondary. The York University Biophysics Contest is a competition for Ontario high school students to create a presentation on a topic in the field of biophysics. It aims to acquaint students with a rapidly growing frontier of science, and to promote skills in the communication of science. Congratulations go out to Sebastian Ouslis for his third place finish for “How the Eyes Change Light into Information” and to Paul Miller for his third place finish for “How Do Soil Nutrients get to the Top of the Tree?” The Science Department is always extra proud of students who take advantage of these opportunities to further their knowledge and showcase their abilities. Way to Go!
History Department As we reflect on another outstanding semester at T.S.S. we would like to highlight some of the great work that
was accomplished. In May the History Department and Guidance Department hosted Grandma Won-Ok Gil
(comfort women survivor) and Mee-Hyang Youn (Director of the Korean Council) who were in Toronto for the
Toronto Film Festival. This speaking engagement was a great opportunity for staff and students to learn about the
lives of former “comfort women”, the more than 200,000 girls who were forced into sexual slavery during World
War II by the Imperial Japanese Army. Students and staff were inspired by Grandma Won-Ok’s message for
universal love, peace and acceptance of past injustice. To wrap up this semester’s grade 10 Applied Canadian
History course, students answered the focus question: Is Canada's History One that You Are Proud Of? The
grade 10s each chose three events that they have studied in class and used the details of those events as evidence
to prove their opinion. Many were proud of Canada and discussed events such as Vimy Ridge or the vote for
women. Others were not as proud and discussed the internment of the Japanese or the Holocaust. The Academic
and Gifted students turned in their culminating video assignments,
which had them developing their own criteria to determine the most
outstanding contributions or most outstanding events in Canadian
history in the past 100 years. Canada has done a lot in the past 100
years...what would your opinion be?
Speaking of 100…….Next year will be the 100th anniversary of the
Battle of Vimy Ridge, The History Department will be joining other
schools from the YRDSB on a trip of a lifetime taking part in offical
commemoration ceremonies in both London and at Vimy Ridge. For
more information contact Ms. Marina Retsos.
Finally, we would like to wish everyone a safe and relaxing
summer. See you in September!
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 11
WHAT A YEAR! This has been a fun and rewarding year, marked by
a host of exciting activities and initiatives…. Be it
Awards Evening; Pink/Purple Shirt Days; Peer
Tutoring and Mentorship; Eco-School Re-
certification; Upgrades to the School Plant; Music
Concerts; Academic Results; Math, Science &
Technology Competition Standings; Grade 9 Day;
Transition Program; School of Character Award;
School Carnivals; Open Mic Nights; Safety Week;
Terry Fox Run/Walk; Student Speak-Up Projects;
OFSAA Track & Field Results; Parent Reach Out
Project; School Dance; Semi-formal; Prom; Drama
Production; School Newspaper; Relay for Life;
Graduation 2016; various field trips and excursions;
our sports teams; diverse clubs and endeavours;
kind acts by unsung heroes – thank you for making
this a positive and productive year at TSS!
September Thomas Balint
Jacob Del Duca
October Jerry Lu
November Gabrielle Bautista
December Matthew Wright
January Paniz Shaker
February Noam Kogan
March Jessica Qin
April Carl Zou
May Hongyue Ding and
Adrian Zhao
June Sarah Knight
STUDENT(S) OF THE MONTH We are pleased to acknowledge the following
students for their outstanding demonstration
of character:
We congratulate these and other students
who model exemplary character on a daily
basis.
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 12
Family Studies Department What an amazing semester we’ve had in the Family Studies Department! Congratulations to the Grade 11 Food and Culture and the Grade 10 Food and Nutrition classes for an amazing job on their Iron Chef and Cutthroat Kitchen cooking competitions. The students did a
fantastic job with their cooking creations. They should all be proud of themselves for their accomplishments! Grade 12 Nutrition and Health put their culinary skills to the challenge cooking for their nutrient deficiency culminating assignments. The Grade 9 Exploring Family Studies made their own pajama pants and
became professional sewers. They too cooked potato latkas and spanakopita that represented different cultures throughout the world.
Grade 12 Sociology of Gender and Sexuality focused on very controversial topics with regards to sexuality for their summative seminar presentations. They did an amazing job getting their peers to think critically and see things from a different perspective. A job well done!!
Looking forward to seeing everyone in September! Have a great summer!
Tech Department Technology courses at TSS wrapped up another exciting
year of change and development. Our longtime
woodshop teacher, Leon Wease retired in January
heading off to his hometown of Peterborough, Ontario.
Replacing Mr. Wease is David Natale who comes to us
from Keswick High School where he taught
Transportation Technology. Mr. Natale is presently
teaching our Tech Design courses. His classes have just
finished the challenging Trebuchet Project.
Mr. D’Angela reports that we are replacing our aging car
hoists in the auto shop and that we will soon be
acquiring a 3D printer for the Technology Department.
3D printing represents the cutting edge of
manufacturing design and will provide a significant
boost to our Technological Design program.
Mr. Knox’s Comm Tech classes worked hard to produce
movie trailers, music videos, dramas and
documentaries. Our grade 12’s also raced to finish the
Grad Video featuring the TSS Class of 2016. This video
was screened at the graduation ceremony on June 27.
VISUAL ARTS DEPARTMENT: It has been another exciting semester for the students and teachers in Visual arts! Mrs Herman-Landau has quite
enjoyed teaching the crafts classes how to make leather
books,and we have received a lot of leather to continue this for next year! Her students consistently create
magnificent gargoyles and humourous pop-art. Ms. England has developed amazing photographs with her
classes, and her students have been very focused. Ms.
Hallis has been thrilled to say that her grade 11 art course produced some fantastic Mini Bernini-Me sculptures as well
as some iconicism acrylic paintings that are somewhat outstanding. The mythological ink etchings were quite
exquisite also. The watercolour paintings in the hall will be missed - but more are sure to come up next year in our
gallery showings. March Break will be a fantastic time to
look at the art galleries in Spain - as a school trip is planned at that time for students who are interested. See
Ms. Hallis (or Ms. Chaudhary or Mr. Fraschetti) for details! To all future art students: Have a SKETCHY SUMMER!
SPECIAL EDUCATION To our graduating students, we are proud of all your accomplishments and wish you success with
your future goals. Remember, learning is a lifelong endeavor!
To Mary DiLorenzo, Department Head of Special Education
It will not be the same without you at Thornhill Secondary School. You brightened
our day, and helped guide our journey. You inspired the department and all of our
students to reach for the stars. No challenge was too large for you. You will be
missed. Enjoy the next chapter of your life as you begin your retirement.
We are thrilled to introduce our new department head,
Robyn Weinberg. Some of you may remember her as a
SERT from Thornhill Public School. She has spent the last 6
years as a high school SERT. We are excited to welcome
her to our team.
We would like to recognize Jehanne Marzouk‘s dedication to our
students with IEP’s. Next year she will be joining the ESL Department on a full-time basis.
We would like to acknowledge David Clarke (Learning Opportunities Grant – Educational Assistant)
and his team of students whose efforts raised over $20,000 for Relay for Life. They surpassed
last year’s goal. Way to Go! Thank you for enriching our community and raising cancer
awareness.
We want to thank our support staff for their commitment to students with special needs. We
appreciate their devotion to their job. Have a wonderful summer. The team consists of Marcel
Assor, Lordana Burke, David Clarke, Matt Cole, Debbie Depinto, Phillip Ibonye, Nanehjan Kardgar,
Mathew Mac Lean, Harold Tam and Diana Williams.
The Special Education teachers for 2016- 2017 will be Corey Copeland.(Autism)) Tijana DeBora, (SERT)
Behrad Mobedi (SERT), Darren Moore (Autism), Sherry Palef (SERT), Andrew Tile (Peak) and Robyn
Weinberg (Head).
PEAK
STUDENTS
IN
TORONTO
On Tuesday June 14, the students at PEAK joined with peers from other PEAK programs, for our annual Blue Jays event. After a great walking tour that included Maple Leaf Gardens, Queens Park, and the University of Toronto, participants had a nice lunch at Caplanskys before going to the game. The Jays won; there were lots of home runs. Overall, it was a terrific, fun-filled field trip.
TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 PAGE 13
The Cooperative Education Department would like to congratulate the students on a successful semester and thank the community supervisors who have supported and given the students a great opportunity to integrate classroom theory with practical experience. Students have had experiences in a variety of work environments such as, education, medical, film, auto, culinary, fashion and retail. They have developed workplace skills, and are more prepared to
make career decisions. Here are some of their reflections on what they gained from their co-op experience:
“By far the best part of this placement was learning new things and being able to demonstrate my learning, and knowing I had accomplished something that very few people have at my age.”
“Through co-op I became more mature. I was put in an environment where I was surrounded by mature, intelligent adults and I mirrored these traits and learned how to carry myself when communicating with people many years my senior.”
“I loved my placement and have already made plans to return as a volunteer throughout the rest of the year.”
“Being at Novotel North York allowed me to improve my communication skills through checking guests in, answering questions and giving them directions”
“ I enjoyed co-op because I am a hands on person. Being able to go out and work all day and being active is a better way for me to learn and be successful.”
“Since working at an animal clinic I have been able to see what a veterinarian does on a daily basis. I have been able to perform and assist in tasks that usually I would have had to wait until I was in University to accomplish.”
“I worked at an Auto Shop. I learned the importance of thinking outside the box in order to identify a car’s problem and create a solution to get the job done.”
“If I were to go out and into the world and be hired for a job now, I know that I would be more comfortable as a worker and
know what is expected of me.“ “As an ESL student, the co-op program helped me improve my communication skills, teamwork and how to be flexible in different situations.” Students in the High Performance Athlete Program have also had a successful training year and competitive seasons. We wish the students great success in upcoming competitions throughout the summer. The Co-op Department would like to expand the list of placement opportunities for our students! If you are interested in investing in the future of our students by having a co-op student at your work place, please call Ms. Patterson at 905-889-5453 ext.316 or at [email protected]
TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 PAGE 14
PAGE 15 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
)
The Business Department wishes Eric Leung good luck and
best wishes as he takes on a new position at Huron Heights.
We would like to thank him for his contributions to the
Business Department. He will be missed by staff and students.
We would also like to thank Mr. Pich for his contributions and
wish him best of luck in his future endeavours. Thanks to one
and all. We wish everyone a safe summer!
TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 PAGE 16
Thornhill Athletic Council The Thornhill Athletic Committee and Healthy Eating Active Living (H>E.A.L.) Committee have once again participated in the Healthy Schools Network. This ministry initiative is intended to promote health and wellness among staff and students in the school. The focus this year was Mental Health. They ran intramurals, stress free mornings where students were greeted with fruit tea during the winter months and hosted guest speakers on the topics of mental health and substance abuse. This year H.E.A.L. once again supported the "Run For It Not From It" Campaign in support of Mental Health at Women's College Hospital. The H.E.A.L. Committee was also a recipient of the Green Apple Grant. Funds were used to purchase fresh fruit and yogurt and make these available to students free of charge in the front foyer before school for the months of April, May and June. The Athletic Council would also like to extend their thanks to all who participated in athletics and intramurals this year. A special thank you to all our coaches who gave students the opportunity to participate in spring sports. This year we were pleased to offer six spring sports! We had many successes throughout the year and would like to recognize some outstanding accomplishments. Katherine Yampolsky and Alex Fainblum represented Thornhill at OFSAA in the Doubles Open Division once again. Congratulations ladies! Linda Nong won Gold in the Junior Badminton Singles Division. Great work! In additional two students represented Thornhill at OFSAA in Track and Field, Robin Clark represented Thornhill in High Jump finishing third and in the Triple Jump finishing 10th. Justin Kim represented Thornhill in the Long Jump finishing 5th. Congratulations and well done! We have plenty to look forward to from our young athletes. Congratulations to all. We would like to recognize the following students for being selected as Most Valuable Player for their sport. These student-athletes were also formally recognized at this year's Athletic Banquet.
This year's Athletic Banquet at the Borgata Event Venue was a huge success with over 140 athletes and coaches attending. The semi-formal
affair was a sight to behold. The athletes paid tribute to their coaches in a "Thank you" video montage which was touching and entertaining.
We would also like to acknowledge and congratulate our special award winner recipients, some of whom will be leaving us for bigger and better
things.
Sommerville Award: Outstanding athletic development and achievement by a male & female athlete Maddie Fischer and Daniel Tsipris
Johnny Huynh Award: Outstanding service to school athletics by a male
Christopher Mohan
Ruth Hansford Award: Outstanding service to school athletics by a female.
Benya Sutyanyong
D. Foley Award: Outstanding athletic achievement by a male
Phillip Wu
T.A.C. Award: Outstanding athletic achievement by a female
Linda Nong
Laurie Kizik Award: Presented to athlete(s) who participated in a wide variety of school sports every year. Micaela Lewis and Yael Lewis
William Armstrong Award: Outstanding leadership, sportsmanship, and athletic performance and development by a female student in a senior grade.
Liina Sadul TAC President’s Awards: A presentation to the outgoing president of the Thornhill Athletic Council
Laura Wong
(cont’d on page 18)
Tennis: Katherine Yampolsky & Alex Fainblum Mountain Biking: Katia Izvoztchikova & Sam Salmanovitch
Girls Field Hockey: Liina Sadul & Laura Wong Track and Field: Robin Clark & Justin Kim
Cross Country: Hannah Marcus & Thomas Balint Varsity Ultimate Frisbee: Julia Biris & Sam Grobman
Girls Golf: Audrey Jong Girls Softball: Maddie Fischer
Varsity Boys Soccer: Basel Rashrash Varsity Girls Soccer: Talia Niss
Varsity Girls Basketball: Monica Mitic Varsity Boys Baseball: Daniel Klein
Junior Girls Volleyball: Aysan Baghani Table Tennis – Danric Wang & Parsa Berenjimonfared
Senior Girls Volleyball: Farnaz Keshavarz Senior Badminton - Alicia Yang & Grant Yang
Varsity Boys Basketball: Arshum Merhvar Junior Badminton – Linda Nong & Philip Wu
Girls Curling: Tina Rozin
PAGE 17 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
In encouraging students to investigate in their post-secondary pathway planning, twenty-eight students visited the Design and the Construction/Trades programs at Humber College on Monday May 24, 2016. Students were particularly impressed with the quality of the programs. There is a “Foundational Design” program for those who are undecided about their area of focus, and there is also a variety of specialized design programs to choose from. Students were also excited about the state of the art facility and the outstanding support that Humber College provides to their students. With a 264,000 sq. ft “Learning Commons Centre” and a nominal charge tutoring service available, Humber College supports student success. Get excited about your future and start investigating YOUR post-secondary pathway options!
Thornhill Athletic Council (cont’d) We would also like to thank the outgoing Council Executive for their hard work this year, and all the council members for their time and commitment. A special THANK YOU to the many executives who will be graduating from Thornhill. Special thanks for your many years of service to Thornhill Athletics. You will be greatly missed!! We would like to welcome next year’s council which is already hard at work planning for Thornhill's 13 th Annual Terry Fox Walk/Run which will take place in September and the Grade 9 Orientation Day.
Welcome to the 2016 - 2017 Council Executive: Co-Presidents: Nikol Kamenetsky & Benya Sutyanyong
Co-Vice Presidents: Gal Armon & Selena Meng Treasurer: Matt Gupta
Publicity: Emily Louie & Grace Wu Fundraising: Rainey Guo & Christopher Mohan
Games Setup: Richard Liu, Bob Pang & Candice Tam Photography: Yana Siganevich & Isabelle Pitigoi
PAGE 18 TSS PAW PRINTS VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1
The Guidance Department
TSS Students Check out the useful websites over the summer and get a jump start on Post-Secondary
Planning:
The Summer is a great time to work on your 40 hours of Community Involvement needed for Graduation….
2016 YRDSB Secondary Summer School Acceleration 4 Week Program Dates: July 4th to 29th
Times: 9:00 am to 3:19 pm For more information please visit www.yrdsb.ca
2016 YRDSB Secondary Summer School Reinforcement / Credit Recovery Session 1 Dates: July 4th to 15th
Session 2 Dates: July 18th to 29th Times: 9:00 am to 3:19 pm
For more information please visit www.yrdsb.ca
All secondary school students must complete 40 hours of community involvement as part of their graduation requirements. Steps for completing your Community Involvement: Review which community involvement activities are considered eligible and ineligible. Refer to the reverse side of the Notification and Completion of Community Involvement Activities form, or visit http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/communityinvolvement.
Search for volunteer activities that meet the criteria on the eligible list. Complete the Notification and Completion of Community Involvement Activities form for PRE-APPROVAL. PRE-APPROVAL can be completed by the Thornhill Secondary School’s main office during the summer months. Complete your volunteer placement. Submit the completed form to Thornhill Secondary School’s Guidance Secretary in September
University:
www.electronicinfo.ca www.ouac.on.ca www.ouf.ca www.ncaa.org (US)
www.pennybissett.org www.schoolfinder.com www.commonapp.org (US) College:
www.ontariocolleges.ca Apprenticeship:
www.skillsontario.com www.caf-fca.org www.apprenticetrades.ca
Student Awards/Financial Assistance:
www.studentawards.com www.canlearn.ca www.osap.gov.on.ca https://yconic.com/ Careers/Jobs/Training:
www.careercruising.com
www.youth.gc.ca www.howtobecome.org www.workingincanada.gc.ca Student Support Services:
www.neads.ca York Region District School Board:
www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/guidance www.thornhill.ss.yrdsb.edu.on.ca (guidance dept.)
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 19
Timetable Change Requests: During Registration Week, priority for timetable changes will be given to grade 9 and 10 students with incomplete timetables (fewer than 8 courses), missing compulsory courses, and those with changes due to summer school and repeated courses. Other course change
requests can be made by completing a “Course Change Request ” form available in Guidance from Tuesday, September 6th to Wednesday, September 14
th, 2016.
VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 TSS PAW PRINTS PAGE 20
