The Laureate Academy traditionally takes all students in grades 9-12 to the symposium.  This year, we attended on Wednesday, April 4, the week after Spring Break.

Students had already taken part in preparatory activities in Life-Work classes, many of them prescribed by the Department of Education, whose new Career Development courses consist of four levels of Life-Work: Exploration, Planning, Building and Transitioning, corresponding with the four high school grade levels.

At this year’s Symposium, titled “Find Your Passion, Not Just Your Profession”, Laureate’s students mingled with thousands of others from around Manitoba (over 14,000 students attended last year’s event) looking for information about colleges, university, trades and professions.

In addition to the upstairs exhibitors where some large organizations like Red River Community College and the local universities have multiple booths covering many different programs and opportunities, students could attend presentations on various topics such as Careers in Radio, Careers in Music, Careers in Film and hear professionals speak about their experiences and answer questions from the student audience.

Every year the food area is popular for students to relax, eat and touch base with each other, exchanging ideas about particular exhibits they have seen.  Also popular are the many handouts: bags, pens, pencils, yo-yos, stickers and magnets, which various presenters give to interested students as a reward for showing interest, and as advertising!

However, the focus of the event is thinking about a fulfilling future after high school; and for the students who took full advantage of the opportunity, there were some eye-opening ideas to think about after the day we spent at the Career Symposium.

Separated into five groups, students and teachers took turns at different stations: Snowball throwing, beanbag tic-tac-toe, bouncing balls into buckets, hockey, and snow soccer.

The snow was uncharacteristically good for snowball throwing, and the targets – cans, plastic bottles, etc. – were fun to knock around. For the snow soccer and hockey each group separated into two teams to enjoy some fun competition.

Ball bounce was perhaps the most challenging activity.  Throwing a ball into a receptacle is difficult enough, especially when some of the buckets were particularly small.  But to bounce a ball into a target bucket or box can be quite a challenge!

Beanbag tic-tac-toe combined throwing skills with the intellectual problem of playing the game.  Tic-tac-toe “boards” made of plastic and tape were laid out on the parking lot.  Players had to throw the beanbags into the space they chose, but that space was not always where the bags ended up.  It introduced a wrinkle into the usual game.

Finally, all the groups gathered at the field for sled races.  Two teams at a time, the groups engaged in heats, two people pulling two teammates on a sled, around a pylon 20 yards away.  The deep snow, somewhat stirred up by the snow soccer, was a challenging race course. Making the turn at the far end of the course was challenging, too.  Many sled-sitters ended up thrown into the snow by an incautious turn.

In the end, it wasn’t about scoring, or winning, but about fun together.  By that standard, we all won.

Crabapple, played to a dry perfection by Dean P., chooses the eager, idealistic Miss Quackenbush (Camryn G.) for the unenviable task of giving final exams to the class which drove out Miss Topeka.  Miss Quackenbush gets an education, if no one else does.

The Middle School drama Laffin School presented the comic talents of nine of The Laureate Academy’s students up through grade 8.  Jack, Peggy, Dorothy, Fred, Patsy, George and Little Mary (played by Jacques du P., Emma van der K., Maikaela V., Grayson L., Sophia M., Noah H. and Mila L.) make the audience think that Miss Topeka must have been a combination of saint and Sherman Tank to have lasted until the last day.

The students are not bad, but they are energetic and clueless to the point of mayhem, delivering the play’s lines with rapid-fire timing and devastating humour.  They illustrate the danger of taking a lot of our language literally, or jumping to conclusions: there is to be no ice-cream and cake for the last day of class, no matter how often they ask for it.

From the moment the class entered, singing, “School days, school days, Dear old golden rule days…” they delighted the audience with their antics and, uh, unique perspective.  Why isn’t a breakdown anything like a breakup?  And it’s true that if George Washington were alive today, he would be noted for his old age!

This Middle School play, directed by Mrs. Law, Mrs. Verberg and Miss Schnitka, was a lot of fun, just for the fun of it.  Well done!

What more welcome diversion could there be than whisking down the slopes of Manitoba’s premier winter park, boasting 25 runs and two terrain parks, plus a tubing hill? Thirty-eight Laureate students seized the day, boarding a comfortable motor coach in the wee hours of the morning of February 16 to take full advantage of what could only be described as optimum conditions on a Friday to remember.

With the nearly-nonexistent snowfall we had experienced to that point of the winter, skiers, snowboarders and tubing enthusiasts might have expected less-than-ideal snow conditions, but the folks at Asessippi had obviously worked tirelessly and expertly to counteract Mother Nature’s rather miserly dispensations of the white stuff. The runs were groomed to near-perfection and the base suffered no ill effects from the welcoming warmth of the sun. By the time students and teachers were forced to bid the slopes adieu on Saturday, the early-afternoon temperature had risen above zero. Quite frankly, we had two gorgeous days to remember.

As always, our friends at the Russell Inn were consummate hosts, treating us to a hearty pizza, salad and dessert evening meal on Friday and an equally fortifying, full breakfast on Saturday morning. In between, students managed to squeeze more than a few runs down the motel’s waterslide, tempered by a few moments of relaxation in the hot tub.

Here’s what some of our students had to say about this year’s trip:

“What I enjoyed the most was realizing I am better on skis in the air than I have ever been. Overall, the trip was awesome.” – Spencer W.

“I enjoyed tubing the most, because you don’t need any skill to do it, but it’s incredibly fun.” – Daniel C.

“I enjoyed the long bus ride, because there was a lot of bonding time with other students, teachers and best friends.” – Rebecca F-K.

“I enjoyed tubing the most, because I got buried by hay and it was really fast on the third track. I also liked the hotel and pool; it was fun to go down the waterslide with friends.” – Austin W.

“I enjoyed getting my expert stripe and being able to go on the Black Diamond runs for the first time on any of the four ski trips I’ve attended.” – Braeden S.

“The conditions on the ski hill were perfect. The tubing was awesome and the pool and hot tub are always the best way to end the day.” – Ian V.

“I would recommend this experience, because I think kids would like it a lot, if they gave it a chance.” – Camrym G.

“It’s fun—you learn something different, the tubing is hilariously funny, and you get to do it with your teachers. Plus, they don’t give you homework!” – Sophia M-P.

“I would go again, because it’s really fun skiing and tubing. I would recommend it to anyone.” – Mila L.

“I will most definitely be going next year. I found it a wonderful experience and it makes for great memories. I recommend it to all students, because everyone deserves a good time like this.” – Emma R.

“It was really fun to tube and hang with my friends and feel the wind on my face.” – Nicholas R.

“I would recommend this experience to others, because it’s nice just to get out and have some fun.” – Kole V.

“I had a lot of fun. I got to know people better and become closer friends with them.” – Garrett S.

“I fully intend to come on future trips like this, as it represents a welcome opportunity to socialize with my peers.” – Matthew H.

“I feel that I learned a lot of tips for snowboarding. I can’t wait to go next year!” – Devon P.

“If I wasn’t graduating, I’d go next year, because this trip is the only time I get to go skiing. I’d recommend a trip like this to others, because you get to know those you may have never really had a chance to talk to.” – Jason D.

Another of Student Council’s fun and fanciful Spirit Weeks climaxed with a special surprise for the entire student body: the opportunity to exchange holiday wishes with Mr. Siragusa, currently on sabbatical with his family in Edinburgh, Scotland. Through the efforts of Mr. Jones and the magic of Skype, students were able to talk to the man many have missed dearly since his departure in mid-October. Students had many and varied questions for the Director of Upper School and were excited to discover fascinating details and experiences of life in the land of bagpipes, haggis and the heather.

Upon bidding Mr. Siragusa a warm goodbye—accompanied by a giant Christmas card signed by everyone at the school—it was time to judge each of the home room’s efforts in a perfect of example of how TLA’s Student Council succeeds in keeping each holiday-based event new and fresh, yet traditional. This year, instead of making a gingerbread house, each home room was given the herculean task of constructing a Santa’s sleigh with only one piece of standard equipment: a comparatively tiny, twelve-inch square scooter. The only other rule of the contest was that, of course, the students had to pull “Santa”—AKA their homeroom teacher—into the Chapel with the most appealing combination of care and enthusiasm possible.

Needless to say, each “Santa’s” entrance was memorable in its own way, but in the end, Mrs. Dyck’s home room won the day and the hearts of the judges with her booming and impressive chorus of “Ho-ho-hos” aboard a sleigh fairly filled to bursting with artful design, colour and good wishes.

Congratulations to all students in all home rooms for rising to this new, ingenious challenge and for all their creative inspiration and investment in an activity that was a tremendous amount of fun for all.  

--Abridged from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Along with all the other Christmas themed activities in the last few days of school before the break, the students of Laureate Academy collected money and groceries to provide a holiday hamper for a needy family through the Winnipeg Christmas Cheer Board.

We obtained the name of a young family from the Cheer Board, and each student was responsible for bringing in one or two items of food.  Each student also provided a toonie, and we were able to buy gifts for the family’s children, and a little bit for the parents, too.

In all, over $170, and four boxes of groceries, were delivered to the family.  From our varied experiences of blessings and plenty, together we have made “some slight provision” for those in need.  

May they, and we, have a very merry Christmas season!

The happy occasion was the Academy’s annual Social Fair, and all aboard enjoyed their experiences in Madagascar, Angola, South Africa, Kenya and Morocco.

Students in grades 1 – 8 presented visual and very active demonstrations of their research and expanded understanding of developing countries, including the devastating problems caused by the A.I.D.S. epidemic, as well as celebrating the colourful and diverse cultures, arts and histories of that great continent.

The Laureate Academy has a number of students and others in the community with various ties to Africa, and their input was on display as well. Students planning and developing the presentations had heard from various parents and friends of African storytelling, history, art, developing connections to these countries more concrete and experiential than just the facts that could be gleaned from textbooks.

Students from grades 3-5 took the group to Madagascar, showing the biodiversity that has developed on the world’s fourth largest island.  They also experienced the geographical oddities of the isolated country.

Next, in Angola, the passengers learned from grade 5 and 6 students how that country is rebuilding after decades of civil war.  Members of different ethnic groups told stories about the interaction between humans and animals, and there were sobering reminders of the legacy of war, in the continued problem of leftover landmines.

In South Africa, the planeload was treated to a news, weather and sports broadcast, by students in grades 7 and 8, highlighting South Africa’s history and an interview with Nelson Mandela.  Breaks in the newscast pinpointed great travel destinations around the country.  

In-flight food was well above normal, as A Taste of Africa allowed the passengers to sample delicacies from around the continent.

More grade 7 and 8 students showed a documentary being shot in Kenya, by a surprisingly clueless documentarian, aided by a very competent and understanding helper.  Experiencing a marketplace showed various art and culture of Kenya, including food.

Finally, still more grade 7-8 students took us to Morocco, where three contestants vied to answer questions about the Education, History, Language and Geography of the north African country.  Each of the contestants was lucky enough to win a trip to one of the country’s tourist attractions, rich with history.

Touching down back in St. Norbert, the travellers and their guides had had a rich and enjoyable experience.  One teacher noted how especially engaging this educational experience had been for so many of the students, and the students seemed to agree. 

There was nothing dark about this continent during this enlightening Social Fair!

Exceeding expectations was perfectly all right with the powers that be on an equally perfect fall Friday afternoon, as students of The Laureate Academy brought endless enthusiasm to another installment of what has become a Halloween Spirit Week tradition for our school.

Bringing her perennial “A-game” to the event planning table, Student Council advisor Mrs. Law changed up the format ever-so-effortlessly this year, retaining events of indispensable status, while introducing a few new wrinkles to keep the veterans honest and to wow the rookie participants.

As per usual, four sets of team co-captains were picked, meetings were held throughout the week to select a team colour and name, as well as to create and rehearse a team fight song or cheer, and to decide on participants in those events exclusive of whole-team involvement. The decision to forego the production of a team banner left a few feeling a bit nostalgic, but most didn’t miss the scrambling for paint and enough time to get it finished before the real fun began.

Debuting the songs/cheers outdoors for the first time was an exercise in pure, unadulterated one-upmanship this year. If blue team “Jaws”, slightly arty, interpretive dance-inspired chant (set, of course, to the tune of John Williams’ unforgettably ominous theme music from the movie) didn’t strike fear in the hearts of its opponents, well… And The Colour Black’s frightening impersonation of New Zealand’s uber-intimidating All-Blacks rugby side was just as scary. The Grey Goblins opted for a more witty, wordy cheer, in the football fight song tradition, while the Red Barons’ campy rewrite of the late-Sixties novelty hit, “Snoopy Versus the Red Baron”, by the one-hit wonders the Royal Guardsmen, scored high on the weirdness scale.

With Mother Nature’s full cooperation, rioters caught their breath just in time for the beginning of Round One—a never-before-attempted event, entitled the “Air Frisbee Relay”. Picture four duos from each team participating in a relay race to propel a ping-pong ball around a course of pylons—and the resulting chaos—and you’ve pretty much got what the event was all about. After that, it was a return to the tried and true for the always exciting, “Mummy Wrap” and “Banana Shuffle”. New Event Number Two was called the “Human Conveyor”, another challenging relay event that prevailed upon four pairs per team to coordinate the conveyance of a clothespin along a string from one team member to another, then pass it to the next “belt” in the line of four. It was fun to watch, even as it was, at times, hilariously frustrating for some of the participants. Of course, everyone had a foot-stomping good time with the much-loved “Balloon Stomp”, and the surprise event, called the “Magic Carpet”, was a suitably silly, yet cerebral exercise in protective embracing and problem-solving.

Then it was off the parking lot and onto the battlefield for the ultimate in gym-riot competitiveness and bragging rights—the almighty “Tug-of-War” elimination tournament. Never have so many pulled so hard and grunted so meaningfully for so little material gain. Bags of celebratory Halloween Candy went to all the teams, so no one went home a loser. Nonetheless, kudos must be given to the Grey Goblins, this year’s overall winners of the 2011 Gym Riot. Way to go, team!

But as we all know, individuals and groups of students in schools across Canada continue to take on the challenge of honouring Terry’s life and the lives of others who have succumbed to cancer. Camryn, a Grade 8 student at The Laureate Academy, recently lost a friend to the disease. On Wednesday, September 28, with the help of her Mentor and Homeroom Teacher Mr. Rambo, she deftly, but unselfconsciously,  managed to assemble the entire school on the south lawn of Laureate’s Landing for an unseasonably warm two-kilometre run, jog or walk along old St. Norbert’s flood-prevention dyke.

For many of  the students, it was the perfect opportunity to experience this fall tradition the way the Terry Fox Run was meant to be experienced: coatless, toqueless, mittenless and, instead, in a pairs of shorts and a t-shirt, with the sun in the sky and sweat on the brow. Students encouraged each other at most every opportunity, high-fiving as they passed each other and as they crossed the “finish” line. Smiles and modest celebrations abounded, and many teachers expressed genuine admiration for students’ effort to engage in some of that “deep reaching” of which the Terry Fox Foundation speaks.

The run itself is, of course, the culmination of a concentrated campaign of fundraising for cancer research. To date, The Terry Fox Foundation has raised over 550 million dollars worldwide for the cause. With impetus provided by students like Camrym, TLA students chipped in, donating “toonies for Terry” and having their names entered in a draw to win a commemorative t-shirt. Appropriately enough, a whole-school picture was taken to end the festivities, with draw winner Machabe front and centre, proudly modeling his souvenir of an event that has come to mean so much to Canadians and global efforts to combat a disease that touches us all.