List of 15 news stories.

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  Middle School Drama Improvisation

  Mat Mailandt of Think Fast Comedy was back on campus again as a guest artist in all of our Grade 8-12 drama classes over the past few weeks helping to teach the improv unit.  Mat's expertise had the students learning the skills of "yes, and", quick thinking and effective collaboration. 
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  University of Waterloo Beaver Computing Challenge

  By Krista Edwards

  
  

  On November 20th, four students from Grades 9 and 10 competed in the annual University of Waterloo Beaver Computing Challenge (BCC) at CDS.

  
  

  This contest aims to introduce computer science concepts to students who have little or no previous experience with computing. The BCC is a paperless, on-line problem-solving contest that focuses on computational skills and logical thinking. Questions are inspired by real-world topics in computer science and mathematics. Certificates of Distinction are awarded to students who achieved in the top 25% of students who participated at CDS.
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  Course Selection 2026/2027

  It’s hard to believe, but we are beginning to plan for the next academic year already!

   

  Current Grade 8-11 students, please note the following key dates and information:

  • Tuesday, Jan. 6 - Friday, Jan. 9: SSC and Post-Secondary Counselling teams visit Grades 8-11 classes to explain the course selection process (Gr. 8 Guidance, Gr. 9 English, Gr. 10 Civics and Careers, Gr. 11 English).
  • Thursday, Jan. 8: Grade 8 students receive information on Grade 9 Arts elective choices.
  • Friday, Jan. 9 (as of 6:00 PM): The Course Selection Form and 2026/2027 Course Calendar will be available online (via student's email).
  • Thursday, Jan. 15: Annual Senior School Academic Fair for Grades 9-11 to attend sessions and ask about elective courses.

  Thank you,

  From the SSC Team
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  Grade 7 Ceramics Looked Good Enough to Eat!

  Middle School art teachers Ms. Barbanchon and Ms. Inglis tasked their students with turning clay into mouth-watering masterpieces that were on display at last week’s MS/SS Music Night & Art Exhibition.

   

  According to Ms. Barbanchon, students began this project by creating a series of drawings for the Draw and Snack sketch assignment, illustrating a food item in four stages of being eaten. The next step was to transform one of those sketches into a realistic clay food sculpture.

   

  Artists often sculpt everyday foods to make them look playful or hyper-realistic. Students used clay construction techniques and painting skills to bring their snack design to life in 3D form. The results looked good enough to eat!    - Play Video
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  Results are in for the JS Beaver Computing Challenge

  By Lara Gee
  
  

  On November 21st, students in Grades 5 and 6 participated in the Beaver Computing Challenge. This challenge was hosted by The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing through the University of Waterloo. 

   
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  CDS Speech & Debate Team Gears Up for Provincials and Nationals

  It’s been a busy time in the land of Speech and Debate!
  
  Last Sunday, CDS hosted the York Regional Senior Debating Qualifier Tournament with five teams of two participating against teams from across York Region. Congratulations to all the teams who participated, including: Austin Cheng ‘29 and Kenneth Wang ‘29, Yolanda Sun ‘28  and Sophie Yuan ‘28, Sasha Nigul ‘28 and Ethan Starkman ‘28, Isla Gunning ‘30 and Aara Ko ‘30 and Adhya Chandradat ‘27 and Aneesa Khan ‘27. 
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  Dr. Kapila brings Biology to Life for Health Sciences Club

  We were fortunate to have Dr. Kapila, a CDS Parent, Board member and vascular surgeon, as a special guest at Ms. Griffin’s and Ms. Lee’s Health Sciences Club yesterday.

  
  

  Students had an incredible, hands-on opportunity to observe and understand real cadaver organs, including lungs and kidneys, bringing their learning directly from the textbook to the lab bench. This kind of experiential learning is what sets the CDS Health Sciences Club apart.

  
  

  Thank you Dr. Kapila for bringing your expertise to CDS, inspiring our students, and transforming complex biology into something truly memorable! 
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  Visiting Guests in Careers Class Inspire Students

  Over the past few weeks, CDS has hosted some inspirational alumni as guest speakers in Ms. Romanowich’s Grade 10 Careers class. Jesse Levine ’19, Senior Coordinator of Amateur Scouting for the Toronto Blue Jays, was still riding the high of the Jays’ recent World Series run. His story is a quintessential roadmap for chasing down and realizing one's dreams.
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  Grade 3 Students Step Back in Time at Black Creek Pioneer Village

  By Katie Chadsey
  

   

  Last week, CDS Grade 3 students had the remarkable opportunity to step back into the 1800s as part of their Social Studies unit, Communities in Canada (1780–1850). Their learning began on campus with an immersive scavenger hunt in the Eversley Schoolhouse - now our library, and a visit across the road to St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Cemetery, where students explored original headstones and learned about community life in the 19th century.
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  Innovation in Action: Grade 8s Shine at Future Prize Challenge

  Last week, CDS hosted facilitators from the Future Design School for an exciting and full-day innovation event for our Grade 8 students. In preparation for the conference-like event, the Future Prize Challenge, students were placed in groups along with one of their teachers. Students chose an issue they are passionate about, learned about their issue and those most impacted by it, prepared surveys and gathered data in advance.
  
  Students and their teachers were inspired and led by facilitators to think creatively, collaborate deeply, and design solutions to their issues (i.e. Stress and Students, Uniforms, Balance and Mental Health, Traffic at CDS, Homework, and How to Make Lockers More Efficient) that impact their community.
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  SK Zoo Learning Inquiry

  By the SK Teachers

   

  In October, our SK classes embarked on an exciting adventure to the zoo, where students had the chance to observe their favourite animals up close. Seeing the animals in their habitats sparked curiosity, excitement, and a desire to learn more.
  
  

  Back at school, we dove into research, exploring a variety of fascinating topics connected to each child’s chosen animal.
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  CDS Student Debuts Film at Austin Film Festival

  Audrey Jiang ‘26 has always enjoyed movies and TV series, spanning a wide range of genres - from Shawshank Redemption (empathy, hope and resilience) to Black Mirror (negative impacts of technology on human life) - two that have had a huge influence on her life. While in Middle School, she got involved in public speaking at CDS and has continued with it throughout high school. Two years ago, she tried stand-up comedy and discovered she enjoyed making people laugh.
  
  According to Audrey, “All three of these activities underscore the importance of effective communication and the ability to tailor your message to your audience’s interests and preferences.”
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  CDS Students Shine at International Public Speaking Competition

  Incredible memories were made when more than 120 high school students representing 37 schools from five countries gathered at Waynflete School in Portland, Maine, for the International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition (IISPSC) held October 15–20.

   

  Three CDS public speaking students — Adhya Chandradat, Aneesa Khan, and Audrey Jiang — had the remarkable opportunity to compete alongside their veteran coaches, taking part in three categories: persuasive speaking (a memorized 12-minute speech), interpretive reading, and impromptu speaking, where competitors are given a topic, have two minutes to prepare, and then must speak for three to five minutes.
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  Guest Artist Meher Pavri visits Middle and Senior vocal classes

  By Ms. Alexander-Lui

  
  

  Yesterday, professional actress and singer Meher Pavri visited Ms. Alexander-Lui’s Middle and Senior Vocal Music classes to perform for students, workshop some of their pieces, and answer questions about careers in the arts.

  
  

  Meher Pavri is a Parsi-Canadian soprano from London, Ontario, known for her work in opera, musical theatre, theatre, and film/television. Her career highlights include performing as Maria in West Side Story (LOT, Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Niagara Symphony Orchestra); appearing as a soloist with Soulpepper Theatre, most recently in 88 Keys; and creating roles in the world premiere of The Overcoat, A Musical Tailoring (CanStage, Tapestry Opera, Vancouver Opera). She has also appeared in Mozart’s Idomeneo (Opera Atelier), Mahabharata (Shaw Festival), and the Canadian premiere of Bend It Like Beckham: The Musical (Starvox).
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  Robotic Adventures in the Junior School

  By Rachel Griffin and Noor Al-Riyami, Grade 6 Students
  

  
  This week the grade sixes and grade ones took a robotic adventure together to Hogwarts.

   

  The robots were sorted into houses by the sorting hat. Then working together with one another the students programmed the robot to find their Harry Potter house - my first one was Ravenclaw. Once we arrived there we modified our program and headed off to play Quidditch.
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