Fourteen Laureate Students Shine on Stage

The acting talents of 14 Laureate students were on display this past Wednesday evening, May 2, 2013, as they performed "The 39 Steps:  A Live Radio Play" before a full audience of parents, families and friends.  Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock's classic tale and performed as a live period radio play, this romantic thriller is a fast-paced ride through the signature world of the Master of Suspense.  Richard Hannay, adeptly played by Kieran S., is visiting 1930's London when the story begins.  From an epic train chase to a feisty love interest (Mila L.), Hannay searches for the truth about the 39 steps with the police chasing after him every step of the way.  Each of the student actors contributed a fine performance as well as coordinated the radio sound effects to make this play an enjoyable experience for all.

Congratulations to the cast:  Jacob B. as Mr. Memory; Jacques du P. as Man at Music Hall, Man on Train, and Joe; Camryn G. as Woman at Music Hall, Ticket Merchant, and Innkeeper; Grayson L. as Stage Manager, Police Officer, Man on Train, and Doctor; Mila L. as Pamela Stewart; John M. as Professor Bartlett; Sophia M. as Cigarette Girl, Waitress, and Usherette; Tyler M. as WBFR Radio Announcer; Athanasia P. as Police Officer and Detective; Devon P. as Man at Music Hall, Newsboy, and George; Zachary S. as Music Hall Manager; Kieran S. as Richard Hannay; Emma V. as Annabella Smith; and Austin W. as Aberdeen Express Conductor, Donkey Cart Driver, and Alfred.

Thank you to Mrs. Law and Mrs. Verburg who directed the play and provided coaching, costuming, make-up, etc.

Laureate Students Medal at Manitoba Schools Science Symposium

The Laureate Academy sent seven students to this year's Manitoba Schools Science Symposium and all seven came away with medals.  Congratulations to Bronze Medal winners Grayson L. for his project entitled "Steam Boats", Zachary S. and Sterling C. for their project entitled "Bridge Massacre", and Mila L. and Kieran S. for their project entitled "Competitive Clippers" and to Silver Medal winners Evan D. and Simon W. for their project entitled "Attacking Algae".  Evan D. and Simon W. have been invited to enter their project in the 17th Annual YES Sustainability Showcase at Oak Hammock Marsh on May 11, 2013.  YES (Youth Encouraging Sustainability), an initiative of the Science Council Manitoba, is a showcase and competition project to foster teacher/student initiatives concerned with developing projects that focus on Sustainable Management strategies for the environment.  Congratulations to Evan and Simon for being asked to display their project at this sustainability showcase and compete with other outstanding projects from around Manitoba!

Another Weekend of Winter Fun at Asessippi

The Laureate Academy’s annual ski trip to Asessippi again kicked off the Louis Riel weekend with twenty-nine Grades 7-12 students and six chaperones boarding the bus bright and early Friday morning.  Four hours later they arrived and began their orientation and preparations for a day of on the slopes.

Students spent their first day snow-boarding, tubing, skiing and socializing in the lodge.  The weather was very nice, perhaps a bit breezy at first, but a lovely break from the desperately cold weather earlier in February.  Snow conditions at the hill were predictably fine with only a few runs slightly crusty. 

The re-done tubing area attracted a lot of students, exclusively or as a break from the slopes.  While some thought that the new magic carpet ascent was too slow, the new system was notably safer than in the past, and there were few mishaps.

By late afternoon most of the students were ready to head to the Russell Inn for dinner and relaxation.  A nice dinner of pizza, salad, and an excellent dessert, got them ready for the evening.  Most students occupied themselves either at the pool or in their room watching the Jets game.  When the time came for “lights out” (or at least stay-in-the-room time), the majority of the students were ready for sleep, or already sleeping.

Breakfast at 8 a.m. the next morning prepared the group for another day of winter fun.  Great weather and even better snow conditions than the day before were a welcome treat and another day of snow sports ensued.

By shortly after 2 p.m., the ride home began, scheduled to arrive back at school by about 6 p.m.  The bus, however, had different ideas, blowing a coolant hose between Minnedosa and Neepawa, and requiring the bus provider to send out a second bus to finish the ride home.  Arriving home a few hours late, the students still had a couple of days to recover during the long weekend.  Winter returned to Manitoba with a vengeance by Sunday night, and Monday found blizzard conditions that would have seriously hindered the fun of the ski trip.

All in all, it was good timing, and a good time was had by all.

Veteran Volleyball Players Help Develop New Talent

The injection of new blood, energy and enthusiasm is a crucial element of any sports team’s success, and this year’s edition of the Eagles volleyball squad was no exception. Despite another strong core of returning veterans, it was key for the coaches, Mr. Siragusa and Mr. Cory, to recruit and develop players who will become the leaders of future teams.

Certainly, graduating veterans Dylan M., Kole V.N. and Ian V. led the way this season, demonstrating skill sets the new players found both impressive and inspiring. Second-year player Macabe L. modeled a serious commitment to taking what he had learned his rookie season to the next level. His innate appreciation of the need to focus while serving was a consistent and powerful reminder to both veterans and newcomers alike that no game factor is more important than “out-serving” the opposition, in terms of percentage.

As one of a trio of first-year players, Camryn G. derived particular motivation watching Dylan truly come into his own as an outside hitter. Whether attacking from the left or the right side, he delivered devastating blows in every match. Camryn was taking notes. “For me, the most exciting thing about playing was spiking. It’s the most fun—to be able to get a kill. I want to do more of those next year,” she said. And with her naturally free and open arm swing, there’s every reason there will, indeed, be plenty more.

As our returning setters, Ian and Kole showed newcomer Alex T. the way in terms of readying him to fill this key position in coming years. Their sets and tips were consistently and expertly placed all season, and Alex gained a quick appreciation for how important these plays are to a team’s success. “I realized how important setting is—and how hard it is—when I had the chance to be the setter. That [overhand passing] is probably the most important thing I learned this year,” Alex said.

Sebastien T. recognized right away how important consistent serving was for any team to win sets and matches. Observing Machabe’s high rate of return from simply “putting the ball in play”, the third new member of the team immediately understood what he needed to do. “I think what worked the best for me and meant the most for our team was learning how to serve and get as many in I could,” Sebastien said.

All three rookies agreed the high point of the season was the team’s October 23 five-set victory over St. Maurice. According to head coach, Mr. Siragusa, the team’s resiliency was the most remarkable aspect of the win. “The way the team came back after winning the first set, losing the next two, then getting that fourth was really something,” Mr. S. said.

Lone match win aside, the coach agreed the most memorable feature of Eagles Volleyball, Edition 2012, was the commitment level exhibited by each of the team’s seven members. “With so few players, we needed everybody ready and willing to play, every time out. I think the near-perfect attendance of our players speaks for itself.”

"The Book Fair was Cool!"

This year The Laureate Academy hosted its annual Scholastic Book Fair from December 3-7, 2012.  Our students were excited to peruse the vast selection of books.  As Grade 6 student, Thomas R., put it, “The book fair had a lot of good books. I wish I could buy them all!” There were books to meet almost every area of interest. “I want the book fair every year.  I like the books about wildlife,” Grade 5 student, Rylan W., pointed out. “I think the variety of books can get kids interested in a good book, and enjoy reading,” Grade 7 student, Mila L., added.  Many students frequented the fair throughout the week in search of fresh reading material, and both parents and students took the opportunity to do a little Christmas shopping as well, which added to the enthusiasm of the fair. “I think there should be a book fair every year, because the books my parents got me were very good,” remarked Grade 6 student, Sacha R.  

Congratulations to all the winners of the special draws held during this event.  Winners of $15.00 gift certificates were Sophia M., Beau R., and Ian D.  The winner of the Family Draw was the Poitras family, sharing $50.00 worth of books between the family and Devon’s homeroom. 

Thank you to all of the students and parents for generously supporting this event.  The sales from this year’s book fair generated almost $800.00 in new books and resources for The Laureate Academy’s library.  We are pleased to be able to continue to offer a wide variety of current titles that help keep our students’ keen reading appetites hungry for more, and judging from the reaction of the students, the fair was immensely successful.  “The book fair was cool!” raved Grade 4 student, Joël G., and, added Grade 6 student, Reece S., “That was the best book fair ever! Everything good…nothing bad.  I would personally rate it 5/5.  Perfect Score!!”