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2024

  • CDS Alumni Women of the Week

    By Alyssa Gesualdo '25 and Olivia Budweth '25

    Women of the Week is a feature of the TrailblazHERs project, created by Alyssa Gesualdo ‘25 and Olivia Budweth ‘25. This initiative celebrates female CDS alumni who are breaking barriers in their fields, offering inspiration and serving as powerful role models for current CDS students as they begin to think about their own career paths and aspirations.

    Alyssa and Olivia will moderate a panel discussion with a few of these CDS TrailblazHERS tomorrow Friday, December 6th from 9:00 - 10:00am in the Paul C. Duckett Theatre for all interested students in Senior School. 

    Panelists will include:
     
     
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  • CDS Dinner & Auction Sponsorship

    Save the date of Friday, May 30th, 2025 for the CDS Dinner & Auction 2025!  The Auction Planning Team has already started planning and will be announcing the theme in January... Stay Tuned!

    In the meantime, SPONSORSHIP FOR AUCTION 2025 IS NOW OPEN! Securing your sponsorship now guarantees you tickets to the event before they go on sale in late February. With the event being sold out the last two years, it is the perfect way to book your seat! 

    All we require from you is confirmation that you would like to secure a sponsorship for this year. All levels of sponsorship can be found here. Once you select your level, complete the online registration.  A portion of the sponsorship is tax receiptable, in accordance with Revenue Canada Guidelines. If you would like to receive a 2024 receipt, payment can be made now, if not in the new year. Just remember, whether you pay now or in the new year, you should confirm your commitment now.

    Any questions, please reach out to us and keep an eye out in January as we announce the theme!


    Catrina Marzilli & Sarah Powell
    CDS Parents and Auction 2025 Co-Chairs
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  • Giving in the Senior School this Season

    This holiday season, the Senior School will be giving to two wonderful organizations: Yellow Brick House and Senior Wish Association.

    Yellow Brick House is an organization in York Region dedicated to supporting women and children impacted by domestic violence. They provide critical services such as emergency shelter, counseling, and legal advocacy to help survivors rebuild their lives. The organization focuses on fostering safety, empowerment, and hope for a brighter future. Yellow Brick House has requested items such as gift cards, winter clothing, kitchen items/supplies. 

    Senior Wish is an organization that has a goal of alleviating the loneliness and isolation that seniors may experience. The holidays can be a difficult time for those who may spend the holidays on their own in retirement homes, long term care homes, or hospitals. Our hope is that these individuals can feel special this season. Items to consider bringing for Senior’s Wish are blankets, slippers, sudokus, candles, refillable water bottles, mugs, etc.

    Each homeroom is responsible for bringing items for the charity of their choosing to help make the holiday season brighter for these individuals. 

    Items brought in for donation can be placed in designated boxes in students' homeroom classrooms. All items are due by Friday, December 13th. Also, we kindly ask that any gift card donations be handed in to the Senior School office.

    Thank you in advance for your support with our holiday giving drive. We, in the Senior School, are excited to support these fantastic organizations and make a difference in our community!
     
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  • Grade 7 Ratatouille Culinary Experience

    Dear Grade 7 families, 

    As part of our Ratatouille Unit, all Grade 7 French students will be embarking on a delightful culinary adventure on Friday, December 13, in the Dining Hall during their last period.

    Throughout our film unit, students have increased their understanding and appreciation of French culture, while strengthening their French language skills. Under the expertise and guidance of Chef Perks and the kitchen staff, students will have the opportunity to recreate the famous ratatouille dish featured in the film.

    In their subsequent French class, students will be tasting their culinary creations. This hands-on experience is a fantastic way for students to bring the magic of the kitchen into their learning, build teamwork skills, and develop an appreciation for French culture.

    Thank you for your continued support of our language program.

    Bon Appétit!
    Mme Ah Sen
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  • Middle School Movie Night - December 12

    With the Winter Break just around the corner, our Middle School Student Council is looking to infuse some festive cheer by hosting a movie night for all students in Grades 7 & 8 on Thursday, December 12 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm.

    Students will gather in the PAC Atrium for a holiday bake sale and hot chocolate, before going into the Theatre to watch the perennial holiday classic - Elf. We encourage students to wear comfy pyjamas and bring some money for baked goods along with their holiday spirit! 

    As well, holiday donations such as new or gently used scarves, mittens, warm socks, or sweaters are encouraged to help those in need. All proceeds will be donated to “Inn From The Cold”.
     
    Remember to sign up on the sheet posted on the Middle School bulletin board.
     
    We hope to see you there!
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  • CDS Summer Camp News!

    We are excited to share an update about the 2025 CDS Summer Camp! This year, camp will look a little different as our school undergoes significant renovations. To support our community, we are pleased to offer a special two-week camp exclusively for CDS families.

    What to Expect 📋
    The 2025 CDS Summer Camp will include our regular selection of fun and enriching activities that have been tailored for our campers. While this year's programming is scaled back, it will still offer opportunities for connection, learning, and adventure!

    We know how important CDS Summer Camp is for our families, which is why we have decided to go ahead with these two weeks only from June 16-27. During these two weeks, the camp will be open exclusively to our CDS community, including current students, siblings, and new students starting in September.
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  • Cultural Desserts: A CDS Taste-Test Experience | Parent Sign-Up

    Dear Parents,

    We’re excited to announce a Cultural Taste-Testing Experience for Country Day School students, hosted by the Diversity team! This event will showcase festive foods and desserts from diverse cultures, offering students the chance to learn about different traditions through the universal language of food.

    We invite you to volunteer by preparing a dessert from your culture at home and sharing it with students at the event. Tasting servings for approximately 40 students would be ideal.

    If you're interested in volunteering, please fill out the Google Form before December 8th.

    Thank You, 

    The CDS Senior School Diversity Club
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  • Grade 5 Students Role Play with King Mayor & learn about Local Government

    Our Grade 5 students enjoyed their visit with the Mayor this week for a lesson on municipal government. He spoke with students about the many ways local government is involved in our lives, from the importance of voting once they turn 18 and volunteering in their community to his role in enhancing recreation and roads in King and the volunteer Fire Department. 
     
    Speaking to them in the Council Chambers, Mayor Pellegrini even had the students role playing (one student as a mayor and six students acting as councillors) a scenario about either fixing roads and the implication of cost versus the eventual cost of a proposed new hospital in King. 
     
    Thank you Mayor Pellegrini for this exciting opportunity!
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  • JS Author Visit

    The Junior School welcomed our beloved Joan Hargrave back from retirement to share her new book, Ellie Sleeps In. Students in JK, SK and Grade 1 were invited to the library to hear Joan read and sing along to several original songs she wrote to accompany the book. Both students and their teachers wiggled their bodies, snapped their fingers and clapped their hands as Joan sang and played her guitar.

    In addition to meeting Joan, the students were introduced to Bill Hunter, the illustrator of the book. As students asked questions, they complimented Bill’s illustrations and inquired about how he learned to draw so well.

    We are so grateful to Joan for writing and sharing such a sweet and heartwarming story about friendship with our students.
     
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  • Reserve Your Tickets for Our Upcoming Holiday Concerts!

    Tickets for the Junior School Holiday Concert will be available this evening at 7 PM! There will be two performances:
    • Wednesday, December 18 at 1 PM matinee performance
    • Wednesday, December 18 at 7 PM evening performance 
    Due to seating limitations, tickets are limited to TWO seats per family for the evening performance.  If you have additional ticket needs, please make sure to secure tickets to the AFTERNOON performance which has no ticket limitations.

    Join us for an unforgettable day of musical joy and holiday spirit in the Paul C. Duckett Theatre. Our talented Junior School students have been working tirelessly to bring you a delightful showcase of their musical talents. From enchanting carols to lively holiday tunes, this concert promises to be a heartwarming celebration of the season.

    If you haven't already done so, don't forget to select your tickets for next week’s Middle and Senior School Music Night and Art Exhibition on Thursday, December 5 at 7 PM. 

    Thank you and we hope you enjoy the performances!
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  • Spotlight on U12 Hockey Team and Early Bird Tournament

    by Mrs. Cawfield & Mr. Rafferty
    While the CDS U12 Hockey Team has been around for years, this season is already shaping up to be a highlight of the Junior School experience for our players! Our team is a small but mighty group of student-athletes in Grades 4 to 6, and we know both students and their families work hard to juggle CDS practices with their busy outside hockey team schedules. Their dedication and enthusiasm is already evident on and off the ice!
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  • Students Excel at Ontario DECA Regionals

    Last weekend, 22 CDS Students attended the Ontario DECA Area 5 Regionals in Brampton. For 18 of these competitors, it was their first time at a regional DECA event, facing off against a formidable field of 2,900 other students.

    Congratulations to Jessica Nigul '25Max Ngo '28Aneesa Khan '27Lily Chen '25, and Adhya Chandradat '27, who placed in the top 10 of their respective case study events.

    Special recognition is needed for Aneesa, who placed first overall in her event, Principles of Business Management, scoring high in both the test and the case study.
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  • Supporting musical education this MS/SS dress down day

    The Grade 11/12 Instrumental Music class has been learning about music and the industry behind it that supports music education.
     
    A charity that has resonated with us is MusiCounts, which works tirelessly to ensure Canadian youth have access to music education through instruments, equipment, and resources.
     
    Hosting this fundraiser has been a meaningful way to give back, and we look forward to donating the funds from our November 29th dress-down day to this inspiring organization. Together, we can help keep music education alive and thriving!
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  • Two CDS Debaters Qualify for Nationals

    On Monday evening this week, five CDS students travelled to Branksome Hall in Toronto to compete in the Ontario qualifiers for public speaking. Students were vying for 8 coveted spots at the National tournament to be held in Winnipeg in February.
     
    They had to compete in four events: parliamentary debate, persuasive speaking, interpretive reading, and impromptu speaking. Our students were outstanding!
     
    Adhya Chandradat '27 competed in her first-ever public speaking tournament and did extremely well, especially owing to the very high calibre of this event. Liam Gunning '27 placed 3rd in debating and 10th overall. Audrey Jiang '26 placed 1st in debating. Diviya Amarnath '25 placed 2nd in persuasive and 7th overall, qualifying her to attend the National tournament in Winnipeg. Ananya Kapur '26 placed 3rd in persuasive speaking, 2nd in impromptu and 8th overall, also qualifying her to attend the National tournament in Winnipeg.
     
    As always, coaches Mrs. Wyndham-West, Mr. Robinson and Mme Davidson are so proud of these students and their hard work preparing for this event.
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  • CDS Parent Association is Hard at Work

    As we head into the Holiday Season, the CDS Parent Association has been busy behind the scenes with the Pre-Owned Uniform Sale, overseeing Grade Parent events, managing volunteers and snacks for the plays, and Parent-Teacher Interviews. We are also gearing up for some amazing upcoming Parent Association events now and in the future and wanted to share a few details with you.
     
    CDS Parent Association Holiday Fair (Thursday, November 28 and Friday, November 29)
    Our annual Holiday Fair features vendors selling unique gifts and food items, perfect for holiday gift-giving! Thursday evening will feature our ‘sip and savour’ event where you can enjoy a complimentary beverage while shopping and listening to the holiday music. On Friday from 1:00-1:45 pm we invite you to join us for lunch served in the Dining Hall, featuring a sample of some of the incredible food that our kids get to enjoy every day!
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  • Developing Sound in Grades 5 & 6

    Earlier this month, the Music Department ran a Clinician Day for Grade 5 & 6 students. The students worked alongside professionals on instrument-specific techniques based on solid fundamentals like posture and sound production.

    “This is a good way to offer individualized instruction and hone instrument-specific skill levels,” said Mr. Shields, Head of Music. “It was a very successful day and something we look forward to continuing in the future.”

    Our Clinicians included some of our private music teachers, instructors from our camp, and colleagues in the CDS Music Department. Students are brand new on these instruments in Grade 5 and sometimes Grade 6, and this presents an opportunity for a solid foundation on which to build from.

    We look forward to showcasing their musical talents at the upcoming Junior School and Middle & Senior Schools’ Music Concerts!

    Photo Gallery
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  • Grade 11 Visual Arts

    The Grade 11 Visual Arts class has been studying the use of Synectics and Natural forms to create non-objective paintings. Synectics is a problem solving method that involves the creative thinking of a group of people from different areas of experience and knowledge. Each student selected a Natural system (meandering streams, spirals, crystalline, etc) and then utilized the various shapes and lines that they saw within the system/form to create a composition. 

    To enhance the design, they applied Synectics (distort, enhance, repeat, etc.) to develop the space with a focus on creating a Dominant area within the piece and incorporating the Principles of Design. Once the layout was complete, they then decided on a Colour system (tetradic, triadic, complementary, monochromatic) for their paint application.
     
     
    We look forward to showcasing more of our student's artistic talent at the upcoming MS & SS Schools' Music Night and Art Exhibition!
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  • Grade 7 Students Experience A Memorable Journey to “Come From Away”

    Rob Waldron
    Yesterday, our Grade 7 students had the incredible opportunity to visit the iconic Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto to experience the matinee performance of the award-winning musical Come From Away. This unforgettable production provided a powerful connection to one of the students’ core texts, We All Fall Down by acclaimed Canadian author Eric Walters, offering a unique lens through which to deepen our students’ learning.

    Come From Away tells the heartwarming and inspiring true story of Gander, Newfoundland—a small town that opened its arms to the world during one of history’s darkest days. When the tragic events of September 11, 2001, unfolded, 38 planes carrying thousands of passengers from across the globe were grounded in Gander, unable to continue their flights through U.S. airspace. Through limited actors, simple yet effective costumes, and minimal set design, the play brilliantly captured the extraordinary kindness, resilience, and generosity of the people of Gander as they rallied together to support stranded passengers in their time of need.
     
    Our Grade 7 students were captivated by the show’s emotional storytelling, toe-tapping musical numbers, and its powerful message of humanity and hope. The performance left a lasting impression, enriching their understanding of 9/11’s far-reaching impact and emphasizing the strength of community in times of crisis.
     
    This was more than just a field trip—it was an experience that brought history and compassion to life in a way our students won’t soon forget!
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  • Holiday Fair is almost here!

    The CDS Holiday Fair is happening next week on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th! Please be sure to stop by either after drop off or before pick up as this one-stop shopping extravaganza features a variety of vendors, with something for everyone! Click here to see some of the  fabulous vendors.
     
    Thursday evening will feature our "Sip and Savour"  from 6:30 - 9:00 pm - a great way to shop for yourself or the Holidays, while enjoying festive music and a holiday beverage. Bring your friends and neighbours!
     
    NEW THIS YEAR - we invite the CDS Parent Community to enjoy lunch in our Dining Hall on Friday, November 29thLunch will be available from 1:00 to 1:45 only.  We encourage you to shop and enjoy lunch, or enjoy lunch and then shop; whatever your preference! Student pick up time remains at 3:15pm.
     
    For further information, please visit our Holiday Fair website.

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  • 2024-25 Inclement Weather & Snow Day Procedures

    Although we are still enjoying mild temperatures at the start of November, it’s that time of year where we look ahead to our inclement weather protocol. First and foremost, our snow day decisions are driven by student safety.
      
    Given the incredibly wide commuter catchment area we draw from at The Country Day School, snow days are called in an effort to prevent accidents from happening on the road.
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  • AP Courses & Exams Offer Enrichment Opportunities

    A common question asked during Admissions tours and Open Houses is whether The Country Day School is an International Baccalaureate (IB) or Advanced Placement (AP) school; both are enrichment differentiators for parents exploring independent schools for their child(ren), but schools choose to be one or the other.
     
    CDS is an AP school and currently offers nine AP courses for students in Grades 11 and 12. Over the past three years, CDS has increased its AP class offerings and more than quadrupled the number of students writing exams and the number of subjects. This academic year, we will have 144 students in Grades 9-12 write 269 AP exams in 24 different subjects in May.
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  • JS Book and Treat Sale

    Grade 6 Pathways to People will host our annual Book & Treat Sale on Friday, December 6th. All proceeds from the sale will be used to purchase gift cards and select toys for our local charities, The Rose of Sharon and Blue Door’s Leeder Place.
     
    We would appreciate your support in bringing gently used books for our book sale from Monday, November 18th until Thursday, December 5th. Please drop off books in the bins outside of the Junior School Library.

    Once again, this year, CDS will be running a Mitten drive. Students are asked to bring a pair of new or gently used mittens/gloves for The Mitten Tree that will be set up in front of the fireplace in the Burns Family Hall.
     
    All donations will be taken to Inn from the Cold on Friday, December 13th. This will ensure that people in our community have the warm clothing they need this winter.  
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  • Save the Date for the Middle/Senior Schools' Music Night & Art Exhibition

    The Middle/Senior School's Music Night and Art Exhibition is approaching! Please join us to hear the wonderful sounds of our Middle/Senior choirs, bands and ensembles on:
     
    Thursday, December 5 at 7 PM
    Paul C. Duckett Theatre
     
    Tickets will be available at 7 PM on Tuesday, November 19th on the CDS website.
     
    The Art Exhibition will be located in the Justin and Julien Di Ciano Atrium and will be available to view before and after the musical performances.
     
    *Save the Date for the Junior School Holiday Concerts on Wednesday, December 18th at 1:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Tickets will be released on November 28th.
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  • STEM in the Junior School is alive and well!

    By Jason Wood
    The Country Day School has launched an ambitious STEM pilot program for Grades 4 and 5, combining classroom learning with dynamic, hands-on experiences in the Junior science lab. Grade 4 students recently dove into geological studies through the "Story of Sand" experiment, exploring the interesting properties of sand and its relationship to rock formation with a microscope investigation. Building on this knowledge, students tackled a real-world engineering challenge: designing an environmentally conscious mining operation with limited resources while protecting a rehabilitating desert ecosystem.
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  • 2024 OFSAA Cross-Country Championships

    By Denise Steadman
    After a season of relentless dedication, Juliet Chieduch '26 pushed herself harder than ever to qualify for the Provincial Championships at the CISAA Championships last month. As a first-year senior, qualifying would be more challenging as she now was competing against both Grade 11 and 12 athletes. Juliet placed 5th overall, which guaranteed her a spot to compete at the OFSAA XC Championships in Ottawa on November 4th.

    Juliet has trained tirelessly at school and outside of school with her track club, showing up to every practice with unwavering focus and grit. On the day of the race, it was cold and rainy, but this did not deter her as she was super excited to race.
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  • Changes to Winter Extracurricular Schedule in Middle and Senior School

    As we prepare for the upcoming Winter Term, which will run from November 12th - February 27th, 2025, we would like to share some minor changes to the practice schedule for our Middle and Senior School athletes. These changes aim to enhance the quality of time and experience on the courts, hills and the ice, and provide further balance for our student-athletes.
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  • Exciting news from the Fulford debate

    Last weekend, two of our CDS debate teams travelled to Oakville to compete in the Fall 2024 Fulford League Debate Tournament hosted by Appleby College.

    Our Junior team consisting of Aneesa Khan '27 and Yuning Du '29 did very well in their first-ever debate competition and our Senior team of Ananya Kapur '26 and Audrey Jiang '26 placed first overall with Audrey placing 4th and Ananya placing 1st individually.

    We are so proud of these four students and their fantastic results! - Mrs. Davidson and Mr. Robinson
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  • Exploring Future Pathways at McMaster University!

    Our Grade 10 Careers students had a fantastic day exploring post-secondary life during their visit to McMaster University this week.
     
    Students enjoyed a walking tour of the beautiful campus, including a look inside one of the residences, where they spoke with a student about day-to-day life. Mr. Huckvale and Ms. Moreau then led an interactive session, encouraging students to start thinking about their future decisions and explore the possibilities of university life.

    Later they heard from McMaster's Recruitment team about what McMaster offers and tips on how to connect and explore university programs. After a busy morning, students had time to explore the lively Student Centre and grab lunch on campus, giving them a feel for student life.

    A big thank you to our chaperones, Mr. Simmonds, Ms. Moreau, Mr. Huckvale and Ms. Romanowich for making this trip possible!
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  • Junior School Crochet Club

    By Joanna Minor
    This term, Junior School Crochet Club students embarked on their journey equipped with magic circles and colourful crochet hooks, diving into various techniques.

    They expressed their creativity through yarn color choices and practiced single and double stitches, slip stitches, and chains. Their curiosity and teamwork shone as they worked together to interpret crochet patterns, crafting various items—from ducks, cows, cats, and jellyfish to bracelets.

    Each student displayed inclusion, diligence, and a collaborative spirit, creating keepsakes they’ll cherish. CDS is incredibly proud of the artistic and cooperative nature of its students.
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  • Lest We Forget

    Yesterday’s Middle & Senior School Remembrance Day assembly included moving performances from our Drama and Music departments, as well as firsthand accounts and memories shared by Mr. Liggett and students who travelled to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands last March on the CDS Battlefields Trip to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

    Students read excerpts from their journals recalling the significance of visiting the beaches of Normandy, touring extensive networks of trenches, and visiting the Abbaye d'Ardenne where 156 Canadian prisoners of war are believed to have been executed.

    By tracing the footsteps of Canadian soldiers and visiting the war cemeteries and memorials where they are honoured, students shared how these soldiers made the ultimate sacrifice for our country and must never be forgotten.
     
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  • Magical Moment at the 102nd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair

    Not only did Karson O’Connor ’30 have an incredibly successful show on both of his ponies at this year’s Royal Winter Agricultural Fair, securing the Canadian championship with his medium pony and reserve champion with his large pony. But he also had multiple class wins in each division. 

    However, perhaps the most amazing moment was when Karson won the Large Hunter Pony Stake. That class was sponsored by the Dunlap family in memory of CDS Co-founder Moffat Dunlap and presented to Karson by Mr. Dunlap’s two granddaughters and best friend and esteemed equestrian Jimmy Elder. The fact that Karson proudly wears Green as a member of Dunlap House at CDS made the moment that much more extraordinary.
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  • Mid-Term Break Organizing

    by Catie Ferguson
    Hello, Parents and Guardians!
     
    As we head into the November mid-term break, it's a perfect time for a quick check-in to make sure your child is organized and equipped with the tools they need to be successful in the classroom. This includes essentials like a well-stocked pencil case, binders with dividers, and an agenda system for tracking assignments and deadlines.
     
    If your student could use some extra support with organization or study strategies, our Learning Strategists in the Student Services Center are here to help! 
     
    Thank you for your continued support, and enjoy the break! 
     
    Catie Ferguson
    Head of Middle/Senior Learning Support
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  • Spotlight on our Athletic Therapist Fiona Whitby

    CDS parents might have recognized a familiar face on the sidelines assisting our sports teams this season.

    Fiona Whitby, a CDS Parent and Kinesiologist, can be found on the sports fields and in the gyms at every home game this year as our CDS Athletic Therapist. 

    Last week, Fiona visited our Grade 12 Kinesiology classes to teach students about the benefits of taping injuries for rehabilitation. She has been helping us out in every way she can. Welcome aboard Fiona!
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  • The Importance of Extending An Olive Branch

    At yesterday’s Junior School Remembrance Day assembly, students were reminded that a wreath is a symbol of peace on Remembrance Day, and that a poppy is worn as a symbol of remembrance and a pledge to remember what Canadians fought for - freedom and a world at peace. Then they learned about another symbol of peace well known around the world – the olive branch.
     
    The branch of an olive tree is a symbol of peace, reconciliation and goodwill. An olive branch is a phrase used to represent a gesture of peace and reconciliation. If someone extends an olive branch it means they want to end a conflict or disagreement or they may want to extend goodwill. It is another way to say “I’m sorry” or ask forgiveness.
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  • A Season of Growth for U14 Boys Soccer

    By Lisa O’Connor
    On October 29th, the U14 Boys Cyclones soccer team took on Sterling Hall School in a gripping quarterfinal match, fighting for a spot in the final four. Right from the kickoff, the Cyclones showcased strong ball movement and unified team play across the field. Thomas Pitts stepped up early, setting the tone and leading the team by scoring the opening goal. Sterling Hall managed to level the score, but CDS reclaimed the lead just before halftime.
     
    In a tense second half, Sterling Hall battled back, tying the game 2-2. Seizing a key moment, Ricky Ren '30 netted a crucial goal, pushing the Cyclones ahead once more. However, the Cyclones faced a setback when center-back Logan Liu '30 had to leave the field. Sterling Hall capitalized on this, finding gaps to secure the win.
     
    Despite the tough outcome, it was a season of remarkable growth. Coaches O'Connor and Dilworth are proud of the team’s resilience and progress. Cyclones, don't forget to return your uniforms promptly! Great season, boys!
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  • Alumni Share Valuable Career Insights with Students

    Kiyan Heybati ‘18, a graduate of McMaster University’s Health Sciences program and currently pursuing his MD and MSC at the Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine, visited our Health Sciences Club this week to give students a basic introduction to Vascular Neurology. 
     
    Kiyan presented a case study of an elderly female patient who presented in the emergency department with facial droop. He then taught students how to conduct a basic neurological exam using the NIH Stroke Scale and other typical scans and tests that would be performed on a patient presenting with neurological symptoms. Students then practiced their newly developed skills with a partner - complete with testing the patellar tendon reflex. 
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  • Grade 10 Trench Exercise Teaches Realities of War

    By Adhya Chandradat ‘27 and Claire Christianopoulos ‘27
    Over the past two weeks, Grade 10 classes took part in a World War One trench activity on the far side of the CDS property, across the railroad tracks. This is the eighth year that our Grade 10 History students have taken part in the trench experience activity. This year, Mr. Downer challenged Adhya and Claire to share their takeaways from this memorable experiential learning exercise.

    The Grade 10 History class Trench Experience was unforgettable. These two days were a tribute to the sacrifices and hardships that veterans made and endured in the past for our freedom today. It was also a very immersive experience that simulated what participating in a war would actually be like; minus the actual weapons.
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  • Senior VEX Robotics Team Prepares for Weekend Competition

    Meghan Weinroth '26
    This season, the Senior Robotics Team is competing in a new league: VEX Robotics. Over the fall term, the team started off by reviewing this year’s game titled High Stakes. The game has multiple elements, including scoring rings on mobile goal posts and climbing a vertical structure. After discussing the game in detail, the team brainstormed what elements they wanted to focus on and how to execute them. They learned how to create 3D models of possible robot designs before settling on one and ordering the parts they needed.
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  • SK Blue share some special words

    By Jennifer Vipond
    To conclude this month's character traits of respect and courtesy, the students in SK Blue shared some special words during assembly this week. Inspired by the books Whoever You Are by Mem Fox and Someone Just Like You by Helen Docherty, the students shared the important lesson that although we are all different on the outside, on the inside, our hearts are all the same. We all have the same feelings, and we all need a friend to extend a hand in times of need. Even in Kindergarten, the students follow the golden rule and treat others the way they want to be treated. 
     
    With beautiful photos of each child's family and the sweet voices of the students, this video is sure to make you smile. The heart of our school will always be the students and all the people who care for them each day. Here at CDS, we are one big family.

    Please enjoy our video (MyCDS Login req'd)
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  • Spotlight on U16 Girls & Boys Soccer - Both Teams Won Silver at CISAA Yesterday!

    Patrick Dermody & Geneva Winterink
     
    U16 Boys Soccer by Patrick Dermody
     
    It was a thrilling day of soccer in yesterday's CISAA Playoffs, and the U16 Boys Cyclones entertained a small but passionate crowd at St. John's-Kilmarnock on their way to a silver medal.
     
    In a hard-fought contest against local rival Villanova, the Cyclones came out of the gates strong with a goal from top goalscorer Lukas Speranza '27 in the opening minutes. CDS held onto the lead into the second half, when a spectacular volley from Villanova levelled the score at 1-1. The Cyclones didn't give up, however, and Kyle Ortiz Fiallo '27 gave CDS a 2-1 lead from a beautiful header directly from a corner kick. A late penalty miss from Villanova gave the Cyclones the belief that it would be their day, and Max Hekkenberg '27 put the game to bed in the dying moments with a classy finish. The Cyclones defeated their local rivals 3-1 and earned their place in the final game, against hosts St. John's-Kilmarnock
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  • Beautiful Outdoor Sounds

    By Kirsten Baird
    If you have been around our CDS property lately, you have probably heard some jingly-jangly metal, mellow-earthy natural, or clickety-clackety-plastic sounds! This year, the Grade 3 classes began their time in Music studying the properties of sound. They then explored the musical element of Timbre, the unique sound qualities that instruments and tones can make. 
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  • CDS Holiday Fair Next Month

    We are pleased to announce the return of the CDS Holiday Fair on Thursday, November 28th and Friday, November 29th.  The Fair is free and open to both the CDS Community, family, friends, neighbours and the outlying community. All are welcome!
     
    This one stop, amazing shopping extravaganza features a variety of vendors, with something for everyone! Click here to see some of the fabulous vendors.
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  • CDS Robotics Student Founds All-Girls FRC Team

    Over the summer, Kaitlyn Zhang ’26 was among students from across Canada to take part in the International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) Canada 2024, a five-day training program designed for high school students with a passion for exploring innovative technology in the field of artificial intelligence. She was recognized for her outstanding performance and demonstrated exceptional skills and knowledge in developing innovative AI solutions, which contributed to her success in the program. 
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  • Congratulations to our Debaters!

    Diviya Amarnath ‘25Jack Brown ‘25 and Ananya Kapur ‘26 were in Bermuda last weekend competing in the 2024 International Independent Schools’ Public Speaking Competition (IISPSC).

    This year's event was jointly hosted by Bermuda High School and Saltus Grammar School with students and coaches from 35 schools across Canada, the U.S., Bermuda and India competing in the four-day event.
    CDS results were impressive with Jack qualifying and competing in two finals in extemporaneous and persuasive speaking and Ananya qualifying for finals in impromptu speaking.
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  • Parent Association Corner

    We would like to thank everyone who joined us for the CDS Parent Association tennis mornings.  We had a great turnout of more than 30 parents who enjoyed a clinic from coach Kyle and some fun round-robin play. The weather was perfect and I am sure there were some great connections made with other CDS parents. 
     
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  • Spotlight on Sr. Boys & Girls CAIS Soccer Tournaments

    Both Senior Soccer teams were in action last week as the annual CAIS Tournaments were held across Canada – October 16th to 19th. 
     
    The CDS Senior Girls traveled to Stanstead College in Quebec for the challenging Division 1 tournament.  Despite not achieving the desired results, the team demonstrated resilience and determination. The girls battled hard, managing a tie against The Sacred Heart School of Montreal and a well-deserved victory over local rivals Greenwood College.
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  • CITE Student Writing Competition Explores Impacts of Taking Risk

    Students in Grades 7-12 are encouraged to participate in the 2024 Fall CITE Writing Competition hosted by the CIS Ontario Teachers of English (CITE). The following prompt and details are from the CIS website.
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  • Enhancements to the Purple Window Help to Ensure Safe Dining Experience for All

    As our food providers in the CDS Dining Hall, Aramark is committed to providing a safe and inclusive dining experience for everyone, including empowering students with food allergies and sensitivities to navigate their lunch options with confidence.
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  • Spotlight on U14 Boys’ Volleyball Team

    The U14 Boys’ Volleyball team has had an inspirational start to their season. From an uncertain first week where they weren’t sure they would have enough players to field a team, to welcoming a few more Grade 7 students during the tryout period, they have rallied to form an enthusiastic team of nine players – and are building momentum with every game.
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  • Wednesday, Oct. 23 is Game Day in the Senior School!

    Back by popular demand, next Wednesday has been declared Game Day (afternoon) in the Senior School with some exciting viewing for our spectators. 
     
    Game Schedules:
    • Senior Boys' Soccer match: Kickoff at 2:00 PM - Wyndham-West Field
    • Senior Girls' Soccer match: Starts at 2:30 PM - Hawksworth Field
    • Senior Girls' Basketball game: Begins at 3:30 PM - Senior School Gym
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  • CDS Annual GY Trips Are Memorable Right of Passage for Grade 12s

    By David Huckvale
    Question: What do you get when you combine over 80 CDS students, 6 chaperones, 9 universities, 4 hotels, and 2 buses heading in opposite directions?
     
    Answer: The GY University Trip (East and West Editions 2024)

    The GY Trip is a valued CDS tradition and right of passage for Grade 12 students and is now in its second decade. This year the buses rolled out on Wednesday, September 25th and were greeted by open roads and three days of great weather.
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  • Iintroducing CDS Soul Band

    By Meghan Weinroth ‘26
    Introducing CDS Soul Band: a brand new music extracurricular with a funky twist. Led by Mr. Barbanchon, this band combines vocal and instrumental talent to perform songs by the likes of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Amy Winehouse. Every Thursday, the band gets together to rehearse their repertoire. They work on stylization while balancing their unique sounds and rhythms. They also practice their soloing and improvisation skills. Their upbeat music can be heard from outside of the rehearsal room and they have received positive feedback from students and teachers who happen to be passing by.
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  • Lasting Memories at Camp Mini-Yo-We

    By S. Barbanchon
    From September 30 to October 2, our Grade 7 students embarked on an exciting journey to Camp Mini-Yo-We in Huntsville. Over the course of the three days, students had the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones, forge new friendships, and make lasting memories.
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  • Pathways to People

    By Kirsten Baird
    The Grade 6 Pathways to People group delivered over 50 boxes to the King City Food Bank yesterday! After collecting and organizing all of the donations from our more than 30 JS classrooms, boxes were loaded into cars and delivered to the food bank. 
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  • Spotlight on U14 Boys Soccer

    By Lisa O’Connor
    After a narrow loss last week against Ridley College, the U14 Boys’ Soccer team was back on the road facing the top-ranked Appleby College in an intense matchup this week. The Cyclones came out strong with relentless pressure, led by the blazing speed of winger Matteo LiVolsi. With our central midfielders dominating their battles and controlling the tempo, CDS held most of the possession in the first half.
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  • SS Drama Auditions For Radium Girls on Oct. 29 & 30

    What would you do if the very thing you depended on to make a living, was the thing that was taking your life? What if you had to fight against a big corporation for compensation, without the means to pay lawyers or medical bills? What if you had to watch as your friends and family fell ill, only to be told that there was nothing wrong? Would you have the will to fight?  
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  • CDS Student Selected for Team Ontario Indoor & Beach Volleyball

    Kim Sillcox
    Aris Dhanoa ‘25 has been intensely focused on her volleyball future since earning spots on both Team Ontario Indoor and Team Ontario Beach last spring. The CDS Grade 12 student was one of 28 athletes selected for the Indoor team and one of 24 for the Beach team, experiences that have further driven her post-secondary ambitions.
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  • Birthday Book Program

    The Birthday Book Program is a CDS Parent Association initiative designed for both the Junior School and Middle/Senior School Libraries. Parents or other family members are invited to donate books in their child’s honour. By making a donation to the Birthday Book Program, you are supporting our Libraries by ensuring we have the most current available books and resource materials. What a great way to honour your child(ren) on their birthday while encouraging student reading!
     
    Consider recognizing all of your children at the same time and we will hold their cards and book notifications until their birthday. Donations may be made by visiting www.cds.on.ca/birthdaybook.
     
    Thank you for your support!
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  • Do you want to build a Snowman? Join our Frozen Jr. Cast!

    The Junior School teachers announced this year's drama production at morning assembly Tuesday - Frozen Jr.! All students in grades 4, 5, and 6 are invited to audition for this year’s production. The show will take place April 24-26, 2025!
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  • Help us Spread the Word about our Eberts Entrance Scholarships!

    This fall, we will once again be awarding four entrance scholarships of up to $15,000 each to incoming students entering Grades 7-10 who best exemplify the CDS commitment to education with balance. Families with demonstrated financial need will be given priority.

    The Eberts Entrance Scholarships are renewable each year provided students maintain high academic achievement and contribute as active and positive members of the school community.
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  • MDA Space Rover Explores Back 40

    Mr. Jason Jugoon
    When alumni Elliot Eydelman '15, an employee of MDA Space, heard that their engineers were looking for a test site with "challenging terrain", he immediately thought of the Back 40 of the CDS campus.

    This past week, a team of aerospace engineers from MDA Space was on campus to test their guidance and navigation systems on one of their rovers. They took time out of their busy schedule to interact with students in two of our Senior School classes - Grade 11 Computer Engineering and Grade 12 STEM and the Future of Science. 
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  • On the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation - CDS Walked for Chanie Wenjack

    Mr. Dave Downer
    Monday, September 30th was National Day For Truth and Reconciliation, a national holiday in Canada honouring the Indigenous children who never returned home and Survivors of residential schools. It is informally referred to as ‘Orange Shirt Day’, given that many Canadians wear orange shirts in recognition of the day’s significance and the story inspired by the experience of Survivor Phyllis Webstad in the 1970s.
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  • Pop Can Tab Drive Initiative

    Brianna Torrealba ‘26
    The Social Justice Club in the Senior School has been actively collecting pop can tabs to support the Robert Hampson Foundation, which transforms these small tabs into big opportunities. The foundation uses the funds from recycling the tabs to provide essential mobility equipment like wheelchairs, walkers, and prosthetics to individuals who need them but may not have the financial resources to access them. These life-changing devices enable greater independence and improved quality of life for those living with mobility challenges.
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  • Spotlight on U12 Girls Soccer

    The CDS U12 Girls Soccer team has been lighting up CISAA this month and sit at 2-0 after defeating St. Clement’s School 7-2 and Bishop Strachan School 4-1.  Parents in attendance would agree that the camaraderie and energy among the players is infectious and has helped carry the team this early in the season. 
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  • CDS Debating Team Starts Off the Year Strong

    At the annual Early Bird Impromptu hosted by St. Clement’s School in Toronto last weekend, Jack Brown '25 and Ananya Kapur '26 were the top senior team. Both students did two impromptu debates, with Jack finishing 4th individually and CDS as the top Senior School.

    The topics of debate were that the government should make it illegal for students under 16 to join social media, and that the government should encourage economic growth to be able to solve environmental problems. 

    Congratulations to them both!
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  • CDS Parent Association

    Welcome to a new school year! My name is Tracy Muxlow and I am the President of the CDS Parent Association. I joined CDS in 2020 and have a son in Grade 11 and a daughter who is an Alumni. When I first joined the school, I volunteered as a Grade Parent and found it to be such a rewarding experience that I got involved with other volunteer opportunities as well as the Parent Association Executive.
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  • Last Week’s Terry Fox Run & Important Words to Live By

    Last Friday, The Country Day School held its 33rd run for Terry Fox in which the entire school participated. Students and faculty/staff ran and walked throughout the school’s extensive trail system with the Junior School run/walking a shorter loop for 30 minutes and the Middle/Senior School students run/walking a longer loop that included a colour run, foam, climbing over hay bales, and a slip and slide, followed by some fun House competition events on Hawksworth Field. The CDS mascot, Storm the Cyclone, was cheering our students on every step of the way. 
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  • Perfect Score on the Byron and Germain

    Huge Congratulations to Ezra Leung in Grade 5 who received his medal at this week's Junior School Assembly for finishing first in the Byron-Germain Grade 4 Math Competition last year. 
     
    Byron-Germain is a nationwide contest and Ezra's perfect score earned him the title of Canadian Champion!
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  • Senior School Academic Awards

    On Monday, we celebrated the academic achievements of our Senior School students and reflected on the qualities that have led to their success. In his remarks, Director of Senior School Mr. Viotto reminded students that success is not defined solely by grades and accolades.

    As the writer and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better… to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
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  • Teamwork with SK Yellow

    By Danielle Papaeliou-Loberto
    On Tuesday, our talented SK Yellow class took center stage during assembly with a delightful video presentation of "The Gigantic Pumpkin," a creative twist on the classic tale "The Gigantic Turnip." This engaging performance not only entertained but also beautifully illustrated this month’s character trait: Teamwork.
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  • CDS Coach Inducted into Western's Sports Hall of Fame

    Congratulations to CDS Junior School teacher and coach Ellie (Seedhouse) Cawfield for being one of eight 2024 inductees to Western University’s Sports Hall of Fame!

    According to Western’s recent announcement, “Ellie Seedhouse dominated the rink during her time as a Women’s Ice Hockey player for the Western Mustangs from 2007 to 2011. 
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  • CDS Holiday Fair - Call for Vendors

    Each year the CDS Parent Association brings together the community to celebrate the season with our annual Holiday Fair. This year the fair will take place on Thursday, November 28th from 2:00 pm - 9:00 pm and Friday November 29th from 8:30 am- 4:30 pm. 
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  • Grade 8 Students Research King History at Local Cemetery

    Earlier this week, Mr. Vien and Mr. De Sanctis took their Grade 8 classes on a field trip to the former St. Andrew's Eversley Church across the street from CDS.

    The class performed a cemetery study where the students were asked to collect data from the church and tombstones about former King residents who are buried there. Students analyzed and learned how to use primary sources in their historical research.
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  • Tennis Anyone?

    The CDS Parent Association invites all parents to join them for a Tennis Morning, outdoors on the CDS campus.
     
    Whether you are a beginner, a casual player, or looking to brush up on your skills we invite you to join us. This is a great way to meet parents and have a blast on the court!
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  • The Buzz around the campfire

    Last week's Temagami Canoe Trip saw a group of students in the Senior School travel to Lake Temagami where they learned how to paddle, pitch a tent, cook on a fire, portage, navigate, and travel by canoe. The trip fulfilled the Adventurous Journey component for students pursuing their Duke of Edinburgh Award (Bronze & Silver programs) and is a fantastic opportunity for any student who wants to learn how to canoe trip.
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  • CDS Admissions: Calling all siblings

    The team in the Admissions Office is thrilled to welcome so many great new students to the CDS family this fall! With our newest additions now settling in, we have turned our attention to meeting and assessing next year’s applicants.

    If you are considering completing an application for another child for September 2025, we strongly encourage you to contact the Admissions Office to launch an application as soon as possible. For a more detailed description of the full admission timeline, please visit our website.
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  • CDS Parent Book Review Returns for Another Year

    It was wonderful to connect with returning and new book lovers at last night's Parent Book Review. CDS Senior School Librarian, Melissa Rutledge, led a lively discussion on the summer reads The UnWedding by Ally Condie and I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue. After a lighthearted discussion about favourite characters, plot holes and connections to our own lives, all agreed I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue was the fan favourite.
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  • Join us for a Parent Walk through the Back 40!

    Did you know that the CDS campus is situated on 100 acres, including approximately 2.5 km of walking trails that meander through wetlands behind the school? Fondly known as "The Back 40", this property plays an integral role in our Outdoor Ed curriculum, X-C running, snowshoeing and mountain biking programs, and our overall wellness and country feel!
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  • Post Secondary Counselling

    Welcome back from the CDS Post-Secondary Counselling Team! We are thrilled to see so many students come through our office door these past two weeks to say hello and to ask questions about what the year(s) ahead will look like.
     
    Here are a few resources for students and parents during these early days of the 2024/25 school year:
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  • First Day of School Marks New Beginnings

    Anticipation filled the hallways yesterday as students across all three schools returned to the classroom eager to reconnect with old friends and make new ones.
     
    At the first Middle/Senior School Assembly of the year, Head of School John Liggett welcomed students back and introduced our newest MS/SS faculty member Carmen Chu, returning SS Science teacher Brian Hendry, and new Senior School Director, Danny Viotto.
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  • Students Achieve Perfect Score on Math Contest

    The Pythagoras Math Competition is a contest designed to challenge and engage Grade 6 students in problem-solving and mathematical reasoning and focuses on a variety of mathematical concepts, including geometry, arithmetic, number theory, and logic. The competition aims to promote a love of math, encourage critical thinking, and identify and nurture mathematical talent.

    At this morning's Middle School Assembly, Mr. Waldron acknowledged Ben Li '30 and Rachel McKenzie '30, now both in Grade 7, for achieving perfect scores on last year’s contest with a score of 50 out of 50! They are recognized Canadian Champions in a competition that included almost 10,000 participants.
     
    Congratulations to them both!
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  • Welcome Back BBQ

    It was wonderful to welcome so many families back to campus yesterday at our annual Welcome Back BBQ. 
     
    The sun was shining and the smiles were in abundance! Attended by students, parents and families, as well as staff and faculty, it was a great opportunity to catch up with friends and welcome new families to our community.
     
    A special thank you to our CDS Parent Association for assisting to serve on the BBQ and helping to welcome everyone, and our Student Council members for cleaning up following the event!
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  • CDS 50th Anniversary Book for sale!

    “To the visionaries who came before and the dreamers yet to come.”
     
    During The Country Day School’s 50th anniversary year (2022-2023), a dedicated contingent of staff, retired faculty, alumni and past parents collaborated to chronicle CDS’s first half century in the form of a beautiful 50th anniversary coffee table book entitled Vision & Wonder.
     
     
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  • Watch Our 2024 Portrait of a Graduate Videos!

    Have you viewed our latest Portrait of a Graduate video series yet?

    During the first few weeks of summer, we had an opportunity to sit down with recent graduates Carolyn DuNathan LeoDrew Schnekenburger and Brooke Wappel to discuss their individual CDS journeys.

    We encourage you to take a moment to watch our Portrait of a CDS Graduate video collection on the CDS YouTube channel and share with your friends!
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  • Join us for Ladies Night 2024

    Join us for a fabulous evening. Meet and mingle with other CDS moms on Saturday, September 21st, 7:00 p.m. for an amazing evening of food, beverages, entertainment and so much more!
    Hosted by Christina and Catrina Marzilli.

    Tickets: $225 per person

    Register Here
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  • Faculty Ponder the Future of Education During PD Week

    Before embarking on summer holidays, CDS faculty participated in a week of professional development, department meetings and classroom and file clean up to close out the school year and prepare for the next one. As is often the case, a guest speaker is invited to speak to all three faculties (Junior, Middle and Senior) about a common theme, which this year was “Reimagining the Future of Education: Approaches to AI in the Classroom”.
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  • Chef Perks Big Win

    Congratulations to CDS's Chef Richard Perks for helping to clinch the gold medal at Aramark International Chefs’ Cup 2024. 👏🎉🔥
     
    The prestigious event was held at Cirillo’s Culinary Academy in Toronto where the Canadian chef, Adrian Salalac, and his chef assistant, Richard Perks, placed 1st in this highly competitive showcase of culinary excellence.
     
    The competition is based on creativity and the use of local ingredients. Each chef prepared a dinner for four, including a plant-based starter, a main dish and a dessert. Read full story here.
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  • CDS Grads are going places!

    Although they will be Cyclones forever, we are excited that our grads are about to become Gryphons, Rams, Thunderbirds, Bulldogs, Bears and Foxes at wonderful colleges and universities across Canada and beyond.
     
    In total, 26 different institutions have made the list of destinations for our 79 graduates, including some traditional favorites and a few first timers.

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  • Celebration of Language & Talent: Grade 1 & 2 French Plays

    Last week, the new Primary French Classroom came alive with excitement as Grades 1 and 2 showcased their French language skills. On Wednesday, June 5th, Grade 1 students performed "La Poule Maboule," followed by Grade 2 with "Les Trois Petits Cochons" on Thursday, June 6th. Both plays were outstanding successes.
     
     
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  • Junior School Summer Reading Lists

    Ms. H. Hall
    A summer full of fun adventures, carefree days and starry nights lie ahead and it is the perfect time to revisit favourite books and read some new ones that you have been waiting to dive into. Check out this 2024 SUMMER READING GUIDE for a variety of suggestions to get you started!
     
    Explore what your local public library has to offer and investigate their summer program options online too. Consider joining the TDRaptors 905 or Scholastic Summer Reading on Home Base or listen and view some books with Storyline Online or the always fun Storytime with Ryan & Craig!
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  • Middle/Senior School Summer Reading Lists

    Mrs. Rutledge
    If we were to encourage our children to do just one thing that would contribute to their future success in life, it would be to read more. Among other things, reading increases our vocabulary, develops analytical thinking skills, reduces stress, teaches empathy, and enlightens us about the world we live in. 
     
    Summer is the perfect time to read those books that have been on your list for some time. Don't have a list or need some fresh ideas? Click below for a list of summer reading recommendations from our MS/SS Librarian, Mrs. Rutledge.
     
     
    Parents, feel free to check out our suggestions for both Middle and Senior School as well. We wish you a summer of great reading!
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  • Recap of the Senior Track & Field Team's Season

    Coaches Manny, Steadman and Winterink
    This year was exceptional for our Senior Track Team, with many personal best (PB’s) set, school records broken, and history made. 

    The first school record to be broken was by Tyler Shepherd ‘24, who threw 13.15 in the senior boys’ shot put, breaking a 22-year-old record. Although Tyler narrowly missed qualifying for the OFSAA Championships in shot put, he can be pleased by the way that he finished his last high school track and field season. 
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  • Brent Johnston Becomes First Independent School Board Chair of CCAE

    This week The Country Day School’s Executive Director of Advancement, Brent Johnston, was elected Chair of the Board for the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) at its Annual General Meeting. CCAE is a membership-based organization that provides advancement professionals at over 150 member schools across Canada with opportunities for networking, professional development, and support. This important chair role is a voluntary one, much like the positions on our own CDS Board of Directors.
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  • CDS Coach Named as Inductee to the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame

    Congratulations to Sandy Townsend for being named to the 2024 Class of Inductees of the Aurora Sports Hall of Fame at the Town Council Meeting Tuesday evening! 

    Coach Townsend has dedicated over 35 years to growing and building the game of rugby, establishing himself as a pillar of the sport both locally, nationally, and internationally. His storied career includes coaching the Aurora Barbarians Rugby 18U Boys to provincial championships in 2002 and 2013, showcasing his exceptional ability to develop young talent and lead teams to victory.
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  • The Under The Big Top Dinner & Auction Was Spectacular!

    Tracey Scott
    What a party we held last Friday here in our very own Big Top! The evening was buzzing from the start, with guests ready to celebrate and support CDS. Along with the silent and live auctions, the night featured jugglers, stilt walkers and a live band to finish off the evening.

    Each year, the funds raised from the Auction are directed toward a special project at the school. This year, contributions were set to help replace the Cyclone Dome, which, at 13 years old, is nearing the end of its lifespan. Incredibly, thanks to the generous and leading contributions of a number of CDS families, Head of School John Liggett was able to announce that we are now able to direct the funds towards a more permanent field house building, a significant step in our school's development. Your support has made this possible, and we are truly grateful.
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  • Annual Grad Breakfast

    Yesterday morning, our GYs and their parents honoured what has become an annual CDS tradition of being “walked to school” one final time for the annual Grad Breakfast. Everyone enjoyed gathering for some great conversations and photo-ops with faculty members and friends in advance of the end-of-year Middle/Senior School Assembly.
     
    We have retired faculty member Mr. Steve McCutcheon to thank for this lovely tradition. As the story goes, before his eldest daughter Renee started Kindergarten, he had a dream about walking her to school, and then wondered what it would be like if he could also walk her to school on her last day of Grade 12. And so the tradition began.
     
    A huge thank you to our Parent Association for hosting the breakfast! Stay tuned for a photo gallery coming early next week. 
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  • Highlights From Last Weeks CISAA Championships

    Senior D1 Girls’ Tennis
    Congratulations to our Senior Girls’ 1st and 3rd singles players Avery Templeman ‘25 and Kiran Chaudhry ‘26 for capturing Gold at CISAA last week, and to Diviya Amarnath ‘25, the team’s 2nd singles player, for placing 4th. Diviya was also the team’s only qualifier for the OFSAA provincial championships this year taking place June 3-5. 

    Layla Campoli ‘24 and Diya Mangat ‘25 also enjoyed a strong season as 1st doubles players and were terrific supporters and mentors to Aneesa Khan ‘27 and Nicole Wu ‘27 in the 2nd doubles position. Overall, the CDS girls team came in 4th place, and according to Coach Aimee Lee, enjoyed their best season in years.

     
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  • MS/SS Athletic Assembly Recap

    On Monday, we recognized our student athletes and celebrated all three terms of athletics at the MS/SS Spring Athletic Assembly. Individual team awards, major athletic recognitions, and CISAA plaques were presented with sports commentary provided by our GY co-anchors Drew Schnekenburger, Adam Montgomery, Layla Campoli and Cole Sheppard, assisted by Jessen Patel and Sarah Cathers.
     
    In his final remarks as Athletic Director after 21 years at CDS, Mr. Andersen congratulated all of our student athletes on a fantastic Term 3 and year in sports. His parting words of encouragement were, “Embrace the journey. Celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. Learn from your failures, for they are valuable lessons in disguise. And never forget that the only limits that exist are the ones you place upon yourself. You are capable of achieving greatness. Believe in yourself, trust in your abilities, and never stop striving to be the best version of yourself.”
     
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  • Parent Association AGM & Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast

    What a fantastic turnout for the Parent Association AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast last week!
    As Head of School John Liggett expressed throughout the morning, The Country Day School could not do all that we do, without our volunteers.
     
    Thank you to outgoing PA President Sarah Hepburn-Smith for her enthusiasm and leadership this past year. Congratulations to Honorary Members: Joanne Dowling and Shannon Ryan for your incredible dedication and commitment over the years. While your children are graduating, know that you are welcome back anytime!
     
    We appreciate all that this past Association Executive and group of Parent volunteers have done for CDS this past year, and look forward to working with next year's PA Executive and volunteers, including incoming President Tracy Muxlow.
     
    Interested in becoming involved as a volunteer, or a grade parent for 2024/25? Email us at volunteer@cds.on.ca.
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  • CDS Team Competes in Judges' Cup Mock Trial Tournament

    The annual Judges’ Cup was held in the court chambers of the Newmarket Courthouse the first week of May. CDS was among 24 York Region schools competing this year and went to trial on the first day of the tournament.

     
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  • Fryer, Galois, Hypatia & Euclid Math Contests

    Krista Edwards
    On Thursday, April 4th, a group of 4 Middle School and 6 Senior School students rose to the challenge of writing the annual Fryer, Galois, and Hypatia mathematics contests. These contests are 75 minutes in length and involve solving four problems that build towards a more complex task to solve in each question.
     
     
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  • Grade 5 Human Biology

    Mrs. Johnson
    As part of the Human Body Systems science unit, the Grade 5 classes spent an Outdoor Education class participating in an experiential activity that showcased the digestive system. Each class was divided into smaller groups of 3 or 4. A diagram of the system was reviewed and then students were given materials to simulate how the digestive system breaks down food, absorbs nutrients and processes food. Matteo said, “It helped me learn the parts of the digestive system in more detail.”   Photo Gallery
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  • Middle School Gauss Mathematics Contest

    Krista Edwards
    On May 15th, all of the Middle School students at CDS had the opportunity to participate in this year’s Gauss Mathematics contest. The contest consists of 25 multiple choice questions with topics chosen from the Grade 7 and Grade 8 mathematics curriculum.

     
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  • Who Doesn't Love S'Mores?

    Shannon Mahan and Isabelle Racine
    Did you know… that the history of the s’more dates back as far as the early 1900s?
    And that marshmallows seem to have a never-ending shelf life and have been around for over
    200 years? Or that the s’more name originates from the contraction of the phrase “some more?”

    The first s’more recipe appeared in a campfire marshmallow cookbook in the 1920’s where it
    was called a “Graham Cracker Sandwich.” It was already a popular treat with Boy and Girl Scout groups across the United States, and soon enough, it was an essential item to cook while
    enjoying the outdoors in Canada.

     
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  • SSC Exam Support Update

    In the Senior School, exams begin Thursday, May 30th and conclude Monday, June 10th.
     
    SSC Exam Support - There will be two faculty members available in the Student Services Centre (SSC) before school (8-8:30) Monday, May 27 to Wednesday, May 29 to help students with organization, the creation of study calendars, collecting missing notes/handouts, study notes, and general preparation for their exams. Sessions will be on a drop-in basis.
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  • Grade 11 Biology: Can Seeds Thrive in Space?

    Kathleen Griffin
    Mrs. Griffin's grade 11 biology students have been investigating the effects of space travel on seed germination by participating in the TomatoSphere project.
     
    In a blind experiment, students planted two groups of tomato seeds. One group spent approximately 30 days on board the International Space Station while in orbit, the other was a control group that remained on Earth.
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  • Love Letters to CDS

    Hillary Hall
    Visiting author, Lindsay Zier-Vogel, came to our Junior School Library to speak with our grade 2 and 3 classes recently about her community-based 'Love Lettering' Project and to share her wonderful new book entitled Dear StreetPhoto Gallery
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  • Presenting Grad X

    The Grade 12 art students are pleased to present Grad X 2023-2024.
     
    Please join us at the Opening Reception on May 23 from 4:30 to 6:00 pm to celebrate our students and the wonderful artwork they have created this year. 
     
    The exhibition will be in place from May 23 until June 11 in Rogers Hall beside the Business Office.
     
    All are welcome.
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  • Students Participate in CAIS Leadership Conference in Winnipeg

    Four CDS Middle School students travelled to Winnipeg last week with Ms. Purdy to participate in the CAIS Middle School Leadership Conference.
     
    Grade 7 students Charlize Bianchi '29 and Yuning Du '29 and Grade 8 students Lucas Juhasz '28 and Ethan Starkman '28 were selected to represent their school and join a special group of 150 students from across Canada. 
     
    Students had a fantastic time connecting, learning and discovering together through various workshops and programs over the four days.
     
    One of the highlights was a visit to the National Museum of Human Rights situated at the juncture of the Red River and the Assiniboine River, two waterways that connect the continent and have been significant trade routes for thousands of years. 
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  • CDS 14th Annual Grade 5 & 6 Public Speaking Competition

    By Natalie Grossi
    On Wednesday, May 1st, 2024, CDS grade four, five and six students, teachers and families gathered in the Paul C. Duckett theatre to celebrate the accomplishments of our Grade five and six public speakers and acknowledge their hard work and skill in communicating effectively at the 14th Annual CDS Public Speaking Contest. 
     
    Whether they deliver inspiring speeches, informative presentations, or engaging talks, public speakers play a crucial role in sharing ideas and shaping discussions. Through eloquent articulation and confident delivery, students captivated audiences and inspired peers with their powerful words and compelling presence on stage. Their dedication to honing their communication skills has truly paid off, setting a shining example for all.

    Photo Gallery
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  • Grade 7 Art Trip

    On Friday April 26th the Grade 7 classes headed to the McMichael Art Gallery. The day began with a studio workshop where students explored the artworks of the Northwest Coast in combination with popular manga cartooning techniques. Students then enjoyed McMichael's natural setting with a one-hour hike. Students learned about the human impact on a changing landscape as well as the history of the grounds. 

    Photo Gallery
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  • Senior School Vocalists Shine

    Ms. Baird
    This week's ISU recital by the Grade 12 vocal class was an unforgettable experience, captivating the audience with a plethora of emotions. Each performance was a testament to the student's passion and dedication, as they poured their hearts into renditions of songs that deeply resonated with them.

    Photo Gallery
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  • Simcoe County Museum

    By Ms. Courtemanche, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Cooke
    The grade fives travelled to Simcoe County Museum last Thursday to participate in the program called "Two Cultures, One Trade."  Students explored a variety of hands-on activities that connected to the current unit of study in Social Studies.
     
    Students worked in groups to complete an orienteering task that mimicked the path that early fur traders had to travel. Students also had the opportunity to bake and eat bannock by the fire. We were able to hold and look at a variety of Indigenous artifacts and furs. Such an amazing day of learning and exploring.
     
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  • Book Walk Promoting Environmental Awareness

    By Hillary Hall
    Students from JK to sixth grade have been buddying up to read and explore along our CDS trails this week as they experience an outdoor Book Walk together.
     
    Kyo Maclear’s book entitled 'The Fog' is an environmental fable that offers students a chance to consider the responsibility of human activity in contributing to a healthy planet.  In the story, a small yellow bird who enjoys human-watching notices a deep fog that rolls in, obscuring his view.  The more the fog is ignored, the more it spreads and the bird begins to wonder who else notices the changes. When a young girl appears, they both begin to wonder if others notice the fog too and whether it is here to stay.  
     
    The witty story comes to life with the misty illustrations by Kenard Park to highlight the importance of taking care of our world together.   Enlarged pages of the story on the Book Walk signs also include QR codes that students can access to view short video clips from the author to enhance their learning while reading the story with their buddies.
     
    Thank you to our Outdoor Education team for partnering with the Junior School Library again to promote literacy skills, mentoring and physical activity in our spectacular outdoor learning environment with this shared Book Walk!
     
     
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  • CITE Conference

    By Sarah Hudson
    On Saturday, April 27, CDS hosted the annual Conference of Independent Schools Teachers of English - or CITE - conference, welcoming 48 English teachers from various schools across Ontario for a day of professional learning about the future of English education in a digital age. The day included a keynote speaker and 10 different teacher workshops, including four run by CDS faculty. 

    The day concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Mr. Harvey. Three brave grade 12 students - Roshni Karmali '24, Hailey Casciato '24 and Adam Montgomery '24 - took to the stage with our other panel members, Mr. Lesiuk and Mr. Rafferty, for an hour of questions about their experiences in the English classrooms, their opinions on AI, and how they envision the future of English education.
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  • In The Flow: Grade 10 Art

    This month the grade 10's have been working on creating experimental paintings. They researched a variety of Flow painting techniques and based on the processes, planned a way to enhance and develop an image from the resulting combination of paint processes.
     
    Currently, they are completing the embellishments in acrylic paint. Have a look at this Video Slideshow and Photo Gallery of their work so far. 
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  • Middle & Senior School Exams: What To Expect

    This afternoon, students from grades 9-12 participated in a study skills workshop “Unlocking your Brainpower-Strategies for Success”, hosted by our Student Services Department. Each student took part in four sessions focusing on different study strategies. The day culminated with a special guest speaker; Dr. Christine Lay who shared with the students how their brains, sleep, and healthy habits can be optimised going into exam time. 

    This workshop is a kickstart to the SSC’s exam support offered to students this month. The following “Preparation for Exams” provides more information to support your children during exams. 
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  • Under-the-sea Adventure

    Our junior kindergarten students have been learning about under-the-sea animals and the importance of caring for our oceans.
     
    Last week they boarded the HMCS CDS submarine, with a ticket in hand,  and had an amazing under-the-sea adventure. They spotted whales, hammerhead sharks, angler fish, and some JS teachers swimming by the port holes. 
     
    Captain Wildberger ensured that everyone boarded safely with a huge smile, and Mrs. Gee ensured the sub was in top working order. Nothing is more magical than when our youngest students experience things using their imagination.
     
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  • Canadian Team Math Competition

    By Eunice Yu
    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.
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  • Earth Week in the Junior School

    By Andrew Bartle
    In the Junior School, Earth Week has been front and centre. It is an opportunity for students and the community to be reminded of the importance of our connection to the natural environment. Throughout the year the Grade 5 Green Team is the leader when it comes to environmental stewardship in the Junior School. Earth Week is their time to shine.
     
    Members of the Green Team have taken on a variety of initiatives that all of the students have been participating in from JK-Grade 6. This week students have been tracking their daily energy use in the classrooms, participating in a food waste competition, spending a little extra time outside to appreciate the amazing natural spaces we have, and participating in a campus clean-up competition for house points. We were all reminded that we don’t need to be perfect, but we all need to make an effort to do our part. Make every day, Earth Day!
     
    In all of the Outdoor Education classes, students have been focussing on the monthly character trait of conservation. This week the students have been creating “seed bombs”. Our campus is a great space for honey bees, which do an essential ecosystem service for plant biodiversity and the quality of fruit and vegetable production. The seed bombs we have created are full of a variety of wildflower seeds which will provide the food for our pollinators to thrive. The students got their hands right into it as they created and launched their “seed bombs” throughout our back 40 in their O.E. classes.
     
    Happy Earth Week CDS!
     
     
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  • 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!
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  • 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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  • Croatia Trip Opens Students' Eyes to Adventure Travel

    Over the March Break, 12 intrepid students accompanied Ms. Wellnhofer and Ms. Winterink to Croatia with World Challenge International. This trip was designed to allow us to make many independent decisions, live with our choices, and step out of our comfort zones. This trip was one big adventure where we had to work for almost every reward – which made each one that much sweeter!
     
    We slept in tents, managed a group budget of over $2000 to cover our groceries and snacks, cooked outside on camping stoves, kayaked on rivers and the sea, hiked in beautiful places, grocery shopped where nobody spoke English and all the labels were in Croatian, hiked up into a remote mountain hut, explored 1000-year-old forts, old cities, and abandoned villages. We weathered a thunderstorm and huge rainstorms, and adapted to many changes in our itinerary. While all of us came on the trip with a friend, many of us really didn’t know each other before the trip. As a group, we worked very well together and concluded our week with a lot of shared memories.
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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

    By Madame Racine et Madame O'Rourke
    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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  • Sustainability Club Clothing Swap

    By Anne Wellnhofer
    Ready for some spring cleaning? Got some clothes that are still current but are ready to leave your closet? Bring your gently used clothing to CDS so it can be sustainably worn again. We are only taking clothes that are clean, in good condition, and current.
     
    Drop off of items will happen on Monday, April 29 and Tuesday, April 30 before school and during break in the Mantella Atrium. Students will be given "store credit" for their items.
     
    The swap will happen at lunch in the Mantella Atrium on Tuesday, April 30. Students who have brought clothing items in will be the first to be able to shop the swap with their credit. Those who wish to shop the swap but did not bring in items will be able to purchase items by donation on Wednesday, May 1 at lunch time.
     
    Any clothes that have not been swapped or purchased can be picked up by their owners at the end of lunch on Wednesday, May 1. Any leftover clothing will be donated and any funds raised will go to The David Suzuki Foundation. This clothing swap is organized by the Sustainability Committee.
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  • Three Debaters Competing at Worlds in Australia

    Good luck to Sarah Croxon '24, Ethan Wahba '24 and Millie Steinmann '25 and their coaches Ms. Wyndham-West and Mr. Saklica who have landed in Sydney and will be competing at the 2024 World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships (#WIDPSC) in Canberra, Australia starting this Sunday!
     
    This is the 17th consecutive year that CDS has qualified at least one student to compete against some of the top high school speakers and debaters from around the world.
     
    Fun fact: Mr. Saklica is a CDS graduate from 2006 and remembers competing in debate as a finalist at Internationals in 2004 in Vancouver, 2005 in St. Catherine's and 2006 in Montreal!
     
    This year, there will be 128 students representing 15 countries at the 36th WIDPSC held between April 14-20. All three of our students have to participate in four events each: Debate, Impromptu Speaking, Persuasive Speaking and Interpretive Reading. We wish them all the best!
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  • CDS to Host One Week of Canada's Debate Camp: June 17-21

    We are excited to announce that Canada’s public speaking and debating camp, Debate Camp 2024, for students in Grades 5-10 is holding a one-week camp program at CDS this summer from June 17-21. Run by experienced educators, Debate Camp directors believe in providing an academic enrichment opportunity to youth across Canada and the Northeastern United States via a set of exceptionally well-organized, safe and accredited summer camps. Debate Camp believes in a well-balanced program where an academic focus is combined with opportunities for traditional camp games, and a fun and inspiring approach to learning.
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  • 80th Anniversary Battlefields Trip

    Misha Svystonyuk '25
    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

    Kathleen Griffin
    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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  • Bunny Visits The Junior School Library

    Hillary Hall
    Spring is here and our primary students have been delighted to have Nurse Teresa and her pet rabbit, 'Miffy' visit them in the Junior School Library! 
     
    Students have been learning all about rabbits, pet care and making connections to fiction and non-fiction books. This bunny is loving the attention with all the gentle pats and special treats shared with him by the JK to grade 2 students. 
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  • Pathways to People Fundraising

    Kaitlyn Saunders
    On January 25th, Pathways to People honoured Bell Let’s Talk Day by wearing blue! Mrs. Hall read Dragons on the Inside by Valeria Coulman to all of her classes and brainstormed different questions that we’d want a friend to ask when we’re having a hard day. These questions were turned into stickers to help spark a conversation with a friend about our feelings. Pathways to People was able to donate $500 to Kids’ Help Phone from monies raised for our dress down day.
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  • Support CDS Robotics this Weekend!

    Joshua Simmonds
    Team 4951 - The CDS Cyclones - is competing in the Provincial Championships over the next three days. Come cheer them on at The International Centre (6900 Airport Road) Hall #5 in Mississauga! Admission and parking are free, and children of all ages are welcome. There is even a Lego Robotics booth available for our younger robot enthusiasts!
     
    Our team colour is navy blue, so wear blue and/or your CDS gear and bring your school spirit! Other teams take 60+ students and fans to each tournament. We are a small team (around 12 students), so we would welcome as many students, parents, teachers, and fans as possible to come cheer us on.
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  • CDS Robotics #4951 Secures Alliance Spot at FRC

    Over the March Break, Team #4951 competed at an FRC event in Newmarket.  With aspirations to match last year's top finish, CDS impressively secured a spot on the #4 Alliance team.
     
    The team demonstrated remarkable teamwork and resilience through five playoff rounds, narrowly missing a chance to compete in the finals.
     
    This was a huge accomplishment, where everyone on the team pulled together to get the robot working to its fullest potential.
     
    Other highlights of the tournament included the large crowds who came to see their Minecraft World and Gumball machine filled with student-created collector 4951 mini-buttons and candies. 
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  • CDS Snowboard Team Has Always Been A Family Affair

    Ask any current or former member of the CDS Snowboard team about what it is like to be a part of the team, and most will mention “CISAA Fam” -- that intangible, collegial aspect of our CISAA snowboard league that makes it such a joy to be a part of each year. But at CDS, the concept of the “snowboarding family” runs even deeper, with a strong history of multiple family members participating on (and being very successful) the team.

    Nowhere is this more evident than in the Gosal family, whose three members, Daya ‘19, Jeevan ‘20 and Sarin ‘24 have captured more CISAA and OFSAA snowboard hardware than any other athlete in team history. Clearly, they have snowboarding in their DNA!
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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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  • Join Us For Our Parent Book Review Evening: April 16th

    Looking for your next great read? Need something to enjoy during the March Break? Why not consider the next CDS Book Review read - The Measure by Nikki  Erlick.

    Join us on Tuesday, April 16th at 7:00 pm for the next CDS Parent Book Review gathering. Whether you are an avid reader, or just enjoy a great book, we encourage you to join us for this wonderful opportunity to socialize and meet other parents while having a fun and lively in-person discussion, led by our Senior School Librarian, Melissa Rutledge.

    Please let us know if you are able to attend.
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  • Join us for Parent Yoga: April 12th

    The CDS Parent Association is pleased to present an adult yoga class on Friday, April 12th from 8:45 am to 10:30 am.  This class is open to all levels of practice, and even those who would like to try yoga for the first time. Admission is free but we ask all participants to sign up to reserve their space prior to April 9th.
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  • Behind the scenes of CDS's production of Clue!

    Gisa Bevacqua-Tirone
    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.
    View photo gallery
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  • CDS Attends U of T United Nations Conference

    Misha Svystonyuk ‘25
    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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  • CDS Robotics Team to Compete in Newmarket

    Robotics Team Students
    This weekend, the Senior School Robotics Team is headed to our first tournament of the new season. The team is very excited and has been working hard to prepare the robot for the upcoming competition. Each team has an assigned ID number; our team is Team 4951 - CDS Cyclones!
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  • Grade 4 Student Places First in Global Math Contest

    Last week, Grade 4 student Ezra Leung received the exciting news that he had tied for 1st place in the Caribou Mathematics Competition! This worldwide online contest is held six times throughout the school year. Each of these days, six contests are offered, one for each of the grade levels 2, 3/4, 5/6, 7/8, 9/10 and 11/12 and each one in English, French, Persian and Mandarin.
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  • Grade 5 Class Elections

    Ms. Courtemanche, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Cooke
    On February 21st, the Grade 5 students participated in class elections. Students have been working hard on learning about the electoral process and about the various political parties in Canada. Students were tasked with creating their own political party in each class, along with a logo, slogan, and a set of platform points.
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  • Jazz Combo Delights at Humber College Festival

    Mr. Barbanchon
    The CDS Jazz Combo recently performed at the Humber College Jazz Festival this week in Toronto.

    Watch & Listen to the Ensemble
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  • Pink Shirts for Charity

    Melissa Rutledge & Geneva Winterink
    The Inclusivity Club worked throughout the month of February to prepare for Pink Shirt Day on February 28th. Since Pink Shirt Day symbolizes an important stand against bullying, the club embarked on an ambitious project to create and produce our very own Pink Shirt designs to sell as a fundraiser for Friends of Ruby, an organization dedicated to the well-being of 2SLGTBQIA+ youth through mental health services, social services, and housing. 
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  • Winter Term Sports CISAA Recap

    Our student athletes played their hearts out this winter term and yielded some exciting results.
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  • CDS Cyclones Performing Well in the Playoffs

    Our Cyclones have enjoyed an incredible winter sports season. Congratulations to all of our athletes!
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  • A Snapshot into Grade 9 English: Incorporating Cross-Curricular Opportunities in Come From Away

    Natalie Moonan
    Grade 9 students have been working through a newly added unit which focuses on the Tony Award-winning play Come from Away. Set in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, Come from Away tells the true story of how the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, welcomed thousands of stranded airline passengers. The students read and watched as the characters grappled with fear and uncertainty, ultimately finding hope and humanity amidst tragedy. Classes have immersed themselves in the captivating narrative by researching real-life characters, analyzing lyrics, and viewing the Broadway musical.
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  • Adaptive Physical Education in the Junior School

    Jenny Cooper
    Last week the Junior School participated in an “abilities awareness week” in Physical Education. They tried out wheelchair basketball, wheeled-sled hockey, bell ball and seated volleyball.
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  • CDS Alumna Introduces Grade 1s to the Bassoon

    The Grade 1 Music classes began to learn about the instruments of the Orchestra recently by using the symphonic tale for children, Peter and the Wolf. This musical composition was written by Sergei Prokofiev in 1936. The narrator tells a children's story, which the orchestra illustrates by using different instruments to play a "theme" that represents each character in the story. It is Prokofiev's most frequently performed work.
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  • Middle School VEX Robotics

    Jen Weening
    Last Saturday, eight members of the Middle School robotics team attended the VEX Lunar New Year qualifying tournament at the International Centre in Mississauga. Of the 43 teams in attendance, Team 4951A, consisting of Lucas Juhasz, Nikhil Mithra, James Muter and Jahan Somaiya, finished 26th overall, and 4951B of Michael Chen, Austin Cheng, Chauncey Li and Samir Mistry finished a respectable 33rd place. Both teams made CDS proud as they engaged all day in learning, engineering, strategizing, driving, and troubleshooting their robot.
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  • Senior School Students Introduced to the Art of Hip Hop

    Nathaniel and JP, dance teachers at Run The Flex, a leading hip-hop and street dance studio in Toronto, visited with the Senior School students and faculty this morning during morning Advisory.
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  • World Read Aloud Day Celebration 2024

    Hillary Hall
    CDS celebrated World Read Aloud Day together as a whole-school community last Friday afternoon sharing stories and the joy of reading aloud to each other in our Junior School.

    View Photo Gallery
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  • CDS Dinner & Auction 2024: Donation Opportunities

    The Country Day School's Annual Dinner & Auction party will return on Friday, May 31, 2024! This is an evening you won't want to miss as we come together to celebrate Under the Big Top - otherwise known as our very own Cyclone Dome here on campus. The CDS Dinner & Auction is our most anticipated adult social event, as well as the largest fundraiser of the year. CDS families and friends have been coming together to celebrate and make this event a huge success since 1974, raising in excess of $6 million dollars since the beginning. You do not want to miss being a part of this evening!

    The success of the event every year is due to the generosity of our families and the CDS community and this is where you can help! We encourage everyone to consider making a donation on behalf of themselves or their family.
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  • Clue: February 29, March 1 & 2 - Tickets On Sale!

    Based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn and written by Sandy Rustin, Clue is a hilarious farce-meets-murder mystery. The tale begins at a remote mansion, where six mysterious guests assemble for an unusual dinner party where murder and blackmail are on the menu. When their host turns up dead, they all become suspects. Led by Wadsworth, the Butler, Miss Scarlet, Professor Plum, Mrs. White, Mr. Green, Mrs. Peacock and Colonel Mustard race to find the killer as the body count stacks up. Clue is the comedy whodunit that will leave both cult fans and newcomers in stitches as they try to figure out…WHO did it, WHERE, and with WHAT!

    Watch the promo video.
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  • Grade 10 & 12 Art Classes Visit the Art Gallery of Ontario

    Heather Castellan & Sarah Barbanchon
    On February 2, the Grade 10 and Grade 12 art classes visited the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO). While at the gallery, they took part in a tour that focused on the idea of a "Time Machine", examining a variety of art genres and artists and how they related to global connections and cultural exchanges, primarily through memory.
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  • Grade 5 Students Visit Mayor Pellegrini

    Liane Cooke
    On Wednesday, the Grade 5 students visited Mayor Pellegrini at the King Township offices. Upon arrival, they were seated in the council chamber. Mayor Pellegrini greeted the students and explained the workings of King Township. Did you know that 60% of all carrots produced in Canada are grown in the Holland Marsh in King Township?
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  • Reclaiming Our Children's Attention

    Karen Sumner, freelance writer for The Growing Mind
    The Winter 2024 Link magazine will be mailed shortly and contains a research-based piece that shares tactics on how tech companies get our attention through social media (including push notifications, infinite scroll, threat of not belonging) and what young people lose when their attention is hijacked. The following is an excerpt:
     
    Time spent on social media is a significant predictor of depression for adolescents. It is associated with mental health and behavioral problems, poor academic performance, greater loneliness, lower self-esteem, and worse sleep. It is also correlated with developmental delays in language, in problem-solving and in social interaction.

    Read the Growing Mind article in The Link
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  • Holocaust Remembrance Day: Remembering, Respecting and Reflecting

    Last Thursday, Grade 8 students Matthew Weinroth and Ethan Starkman spoke to the assembled Middle School to honour International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Carolyn Du ‘24 and Zak Khan ‘25 did the same at Monday's Middle/Senior School Assembly.
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  • Legacy on the Court: One Student's Journey to Igniting Spirit and Pride

    Drew Schnekenburger ‘24 first started visualizing success for the Senior Boys’ Basketball team last summer. Excited to finish his final year of high school on a high note, especially after missing out on full season experiences during the first two years of COVID, he also wants to leave his mark on CDS athletics as a three-term athlete.
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  • Join us for the next Parent Book Review Evening: March 5

    Join fellow CDS Parents for our next Book Review on Tuesday, March 5th at 7:00 pm. This is a wonderful way to meet new parents, while discussing the newest novel The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride.
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  • Junior & Senior Drama Students Collaborate in Shared Love for Theatre

    Last Saturday, both the cast and crew of the Senior School play Clue and the Junior School show SpongeBob: The Musical spent the day in our Performing Arts Centre rehearsing for their respective performances. The SpongeBob directors had the incredible idea to bring the two groups together since they were already in the same space. In the afternoon, the two groups had the opportunity to work with our talented head of Drama, Ms. Bevacqua-Tirone. The group took time to get to know each other, shared a scene from their shows with one another, and participated in a fun drama game.
     
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  • Students Qualify for Junior High Speech Nationals

    Last Saturday, CDS hosted the 2024 Ontario Qualifier for the Junior Nationals for students in Grades 7-9. Anna Druta ‘28 and Liam Gunning ‘27 participated in the tournament alongside 34 other students from 10 different schools.
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  • Academic Assembly Highlights: Make Learning Fun!

    One of the themes of Monday’s Middle/Senior Academic Assembly was that education can be fun! Mr. Harvey congratulated our six impressive Math Award recipients (see story below) for choosing to compete in math competitions because they are fun. In the same vein, Ms. Aldoroty recognized three GY students, Matthew, Ryan and Costa, for competing in a DECA Stock Market Challenge that was a lot of work, but also fun for them.
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  • CAIS Accreditation Visit

    Every five years it is required by the Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS) to complete an evaluation accreditation. We will have some special guests at The Country Day School from January 28– January 31. A Visiting Committee from CAIS will be here to examine the K-12 programs and all operations of the school. School accreditation is a requirement for regular membership in CAIS.
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  • Canadian Senior & Intermediate Mathematics Contests

    Krista Edwards
    Last November, we had 39 motivated students rise to the challenge of competing in either the Canadian Senior Mathematics Competition (CSMC) or the Canadian Intermediate Math Competition (CIMC). Both contests are two hours in duration, require full solutions, and provide students with opportunities to demonstrate an excellent knowledge of various mathematical topics.
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  • CDS Summer Camp Launches January 29th!

    We're thrilled to announce the return of the CDS Summer Camp once again this summer!
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  • DECA Stock Market Challenge

    Laura Aldoroty
    Congratulations to three GY students: Matthew Matrosov, Costa Colivas and Ryan Letichever, who recently competed in the DECA Stock Market Challenge!
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  • Director of Senior School Ms. Bland to Retire in June

    At the Middle/Senior School Assembly Monday, Mr. Liggett shared the news that CDS Director of Senior School, Ms. Celia Bland, will be retiring at the end of this year.
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  • Summer School 2024 Course Offerings & Registration

    CDS Summer School Registration opens on Monday, January 22, 2024 (for CDS students). Courses can fill up quickly!
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  • Igniting Change: A Grade 11 Student's DECA Community Awareness Project

    Olivia Budweth '25
    This fall, Olivia Budweth initiated a project with the goal of spreading awareness about the effects of Northern Canada’s wildfires. She noticed a lack of knowledge within the CDS community, and given the complexity of the issue, decided that something could be done to change this.
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  • Summer School Course Offerings

    CDS Summer School Registration opens on Monday, January 22nd. Please note: Courses can fill up quickly!
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Land Acknowledgment

The Country Day School wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. Our nearest Indigenous Nations are now the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Chippewas of Georgina Island. The Dish with One Spoon Wampum covenant is often cited as an example of the shared responsibility for caring for these lands among the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee peoples who would call these their traditional territories. CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection to this land can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for the land and waters for future generations.

School Information

Junior, Middle and Senior Schools
13415 Dufferin Street, King, Ontario L7B 1K5 

(905) 833-1220 

communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca

Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.