List of 15 news stories.

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  Canadian Team Math Competition

  On April 15th, five Grade 10 and 11 students went to Pickering College for the University of Waterloo’s Math Team competition. The competitors were Luca Tchelidze, Jason Liang, Tiffany Chan, Andrii Bessarab, and Vincent Wang.

   

  First, Mike Eden, a professor from the University of Waterloo, gave a welcome speech and presented a few cool math problems to prepare our brains for the day.

   

  After a short break, the competition started with team questions. In this section, each team of 6 students was to solve questions strategically and work together. Although we were a group of 5, we did our best and worked together to complete most of the 25 questions given. 

   

   
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  CDS Debaters All Advanced to Finals at World Championships

  CDS experienced several firsts last week at the World Individual Debating & Public Speaking Championships (WIDPSC) held at Canberra Girls Grammar School in Canberra, Australia.

   

  Ethan Wahba ’24, Millie Steinmann ’25 and Sarah Croxon ’24 competed in a total of eight finals for CDS, with both Ethan and Millie emerging as World Champions.

  
  According to their coach Kerstin Wyndham-West, who has led the debating program for more than 20 years, “We have never had two students win their individual categories in the same year, and all three made it to eight of the possible 12 finals! That is a record for CDS.”

  
  In the individual events, Ethan is World Champion of Interpretive Reading and finished 3rd in Debating, and Millie is World Champion of Persuasive Speaking. Overall Ethan was the 3rd place speaker, Millie was 9th and Sarah was 18th out of 124 students representing 15 countries. 
  
  All three students chose thought-provoking topics and readings to present on. Here some
  highlights:

  
  “For my interpretive reading, I performed the short story Going Grapefruit by Ian Richards. This story follows a man who is hit by a car and incurs a traumatic injury which changes the way his brain processes language, in his new language words take on seemingly random meanings. I chose this piece because it reminds us that understanding others is much more than just the words people use, but rather the tone and emotion that comes with it.” – Ethan Wahba ’24

  
  “I presented a persuasive speech about the hidden dangers of energy drinks, particularly for teenagers. Companies like Red Bull specifically market to young people by hiring college students to handout free drinks on university campuses. I don’t think people realize just how much caffeine is in these drinks. Just one can contains as much as six cans of Coke, way more than the recommended daily allowance of caffeine for kids, which can have a really dangerous effect on your heart and long-term health.” – Millie Steinmann ’25

  
  “My persuasive speech looked at the growing problem of the tipping culture across North America. Ever since the pandemic, it has become a growing issue. I feel people should be able to do what they want when it comes to leaving a gratuity. I really enjoyed writing and performing this speech because it is a topic that everyone can relate to in some way.” – Sarah Croxon ’24
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  CISMF 2024 Did Not Disappoint!

  On Saturday, April 13th, the Conference of Independent Schools held their annual Music Festival at Roy Thomson Hall. CISMF 2024 featured 1400 students from 39 schools performing in three concert bands, three choirs, two string ensembles, a jazz band and a taiko drum ensemble.

  
  

  Students from all over the CIS auditioned for the various band and string ensembles, with the choirs having an open invitation to school choirs and individual students to participate.

   

  CDS had 36 students participate this year, having representation in the Junior Choir, Intermediate Choir, Senior Choir, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band and the Chamber String Ensemble. 

  
  

  A hearty congratulations to all the students who participated, and a special thanks to Mrs. Baird, Ms. Ketterick, Mr. Barbanchon, Mr. Moore, Mr. Shields and Ms. Racine for preparing and chaperoning the students for this special event.

   

  JS Photo Gallery

   

  SS Photo Gallery
• 

  Senior Concert Band to Perform Commissioned Piece at Spring Concert

  Last summer, CDS’s new Head of Music, Larry Shields, reached out to a friend at Alfred Publishing about commissioning a song based on the school mascot – the Cyclone. As a huge proponent of Canadian content and new work – Mr. Shields felt it would serve as a fresh approach in his new role and be inspirational to our students as well.

   

  The result was a wonderful piece called Windstorm written by Vincent Gassi, which the Senior Concert Band will perform at the upcoming Middle/Senior Spring Concert on May 16th. Mr. Shields has worked with Gassi for many years and is thrilled to report that this commissioned piece will be published to sell worldwide in September with an inscription commissioned for The Country Day School.

   

  According to Shields, while the piece is challenging, his students are enjoying playing the work. The students were fortunate to have the composer work with them for a rehearsal in February to better understand Gassi’s concept and vision for the music.
  
  “It starts off with the students blowing through their instruments to mimic the sound of wind, then launches into an exciting rhythmic section representing the storm. This is followed by a calmer, beautiful melodic movement, possibly depicting the eye of the storm. The work ends with the fast paced, mixed measures and rhythmic complexity demonstrated in the earlier section, ending on a very exciting note – I think people will really enjoy the experience.”

   

  The front cover of the score has a windstorm depicted on it along with the dedication to the school and Vince’s autograph. Shields plans to hang it somewhere prominent and going forward, commission a Canadian work every year for different groups in the department. He envisions eventually having all of the covers plaqued and mounted along the Music hallway.

   

  Be sure to reserve your tickets for the upcoming Middle/Senior School Spring Concert. You won’t want to miss hearing the inaugural performance of Windstorm on Thursday, May 16th. It is our hope that Vince Gassi will also be there to watch!
• 

  CDS Hosts CITE Network Conference

  We are proud to share that The Country Day School will be hosting the CIS Ontario CITE Network Conference on Saturday, April 27th, where educators will explore "Literacy in the Digital Age" with keynote speaker Ramona Pringle from CBC. Ramona is the Director of the Creative School Innovation Studio at Toronto Metropolitan University and Director of the Transmedia Zone, an incubator for innovation in media and storytelling.

   

  This full-day event features 14 workshops (six led by CDS faculty members) and offers insights into integrating digital tools and fostering digital literacy skills in English education. It is open to teachers and educators from JK-12 in the independent school system who are looking to reimagine the future of teaching English in the digital era. There will also be interesting content about emerging forms of literature and trends in books for all ages.

   

  Thank you to Sarah Hudson, our Head of English, for hosting it at CDS!
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  Pascal, Cayley, & Fermat Math Contests

  On February 28th, a group of 62 Middle and Senior School students rose to the challenge of writing the annual Pascal, Cayley, and Fermat mathematics contests organized by the University of Waterloo.

  
  Certificates of Distinction are earned by those who achieve in the top 25% of participants at CDS and the school medal is awarded to the top score at CDS (please note that all certificates and medals have a minimum cut-off score that is set by the CEMC, and the school medals will be distributed once the shipment arrives).
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  World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships

  Exciting news from the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships in Australia - our three debaters have all advanced to the finals! Ethan Wahba '24 will be competing in all 4 event finals, and Sarah Croxon '24 and Millie Steinmann '25 will compete in two each. We wish them all the best! 
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  Grade 5's Gather Inspiration From The Story of CDS's Heritage

  It has been the tradition for the Junior School to run a contest among the Grade 5 students for the next academic year’s agenda cover. This year, JS Visual Arts teacher Ms. Kuchmak sought inspiration from the recent opening of Burns Family Hall and the school’s decision to preserve its 1883 schoolhouse for years to come.

   

  Who better to share history of the legacy, heritage and magic behind this spectacular new building than Mr. Liggett – in a presentation to the Grade 5s on the Founders' Stairs outside of the Junior School Library on Monday.
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  La Semaine Du Français: Celebrating French Culture and Language in the Junior School

  Last week our Junior School celebrated the rich world of the French language and culture during la semaine du français. Here's a glimpse of some of the wonderful activities and experiences our young language learners enjoyed:

   

  Each morning, our announcements kicked off with the French rendition of 'O Canada' and intriguing tidbits about the language. Our 'word of the day' segment shed light on how certain English words, like 'harmony' or 'l'harmonie' in French, have roots in the French language.

   

  Grades 1-2 honed their French communication skills by exchanging letters with their pen pals in Calgary, fostering language practice and cultural exchange. Meanwhile, some of our Grade 4 students had a blast playing games with their Grade 12 buddies while reinforcing their vocabulary skills.
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  80th Anniversary Battlefields Trip

  During the spring break, a group of 26 students from our Senior School embarked on a remarkable journey to Europe, commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day by tracing the footsteps of Canadian heroes who played pivotal roles in both World Wars. Accompanied by dedicated faculty members, our expedition began with fervour and curiosity. Students were eager to dive into the rich tapestry of European history and pay homage to the sacrifices that brave Canadian soldiers had made for peace.

  
  

  Our adventure started in the City of Light itself, Paris, where we marvelled at iconic landmarks that have stood the test of time. From the awe-inspiring beauty of the Louvre to the timeless grandeur of Notre Dame Cathedral and the unmistakable silhouette of the Eiffel Tower piercing the sky, Paris embraced us with its charm and history. 

  
  

  However, our journey was not confined to the romantic allure of Paris.
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  Biology Students Participate in DNA Workshop

  On Tuesday, Mrs. Griffin’s Grade 12 biology classes visited the Ontario Science Centre and participated in a full day DNA fingerprinting workshop.

   

  Each student extracted DNA from their own cheek cells. They amplified the DNA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and separated their DNA according to fragment size using gel electrophoresis.

   

  Students then determined their genotype frequency at one particular locus and learned whether their specific genetic combination was rare or common in the population at large.

   

  The workshop was hands-on and engaging and allowed students to practice important lab skills that will be essential to their success in any first year biology lab course next year in post-secondary.
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  The Oscars 2024: Film Class Competition Winner

  Prior to the March Break, Ms. Moonan's Grade 12 Film class kept a close eye on Hollywood's award season, culminating in a competition to predict which films and individuals would win at the 96th Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars. 

   

  The Oscars took place over the break, on March 10th. Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer was the most celebrated winner of the evening, securing 7 of 13 nominations, though the night will likely be best remembered for Ryan Gosling's exuberant rendition of Barbie's "I'm Just Ken" and Emma Stone's teary acceptance speech for Best Actress. 
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  A World Religions Day Out

  Earlier this week, the small but mighty Grade 11 World Religions class ventured out to visit a Mosque and a Jewish Temple. The aim was to bring to life their study of the Abrahamic faiths.
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  Behind the scenes of CDS's production of Clue!

  It’s safe to say that the sets for CDS productions are outstanding. This year’s set, designed by Sarah Barbanchon, built by Kim Marchessault, and dressed by Kira Duff, Will Hofstetter and Daniel Robertson, was no exception. The attention to detail and craftsmanship were of a professional grade. In fact, one audience member declared that the set was like another character on stage - just as integral to the story as the actors - and they are absolutely correct.
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  CDS Attends U of T United Nations Conference

  The UTMUN conference, which took place in February, was nothing short of incredible. Four CDS students stepped into the shoes of world leaders, engaging in fruitful international diplomacy. We became architects of change, tackling pressing global issues, engaging in passionate debates, and crafting impactful resolutions.
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