JULY 2013 NEWSLETTER
Congratulations to all our students who have successfully completed semester 2 of the 2013 school term. We
celebrated the graduation of our 2013 students, honouring 379 graduates of which 136 were Ontario Scholars, 140
were on the honour roll, and 38 received the red seal on their diploma indicating the successful completion of a high
skills major. Our platform party included Pickering Trustee Chris Braney (and vice chair of the DDSB trustees),
Superintendent Lisa Millar and Mayor Ryan. A special thank you to our guidance department, Master of Ceremonies
Mr. Davey, and our valedictorian Jordan Siewnarine. Congratulations to all our graduates!
We have enjoyed a real busy second half of this semester. Congratulations to all who participated in :
• Grease (school musical)
• Prom Committee
• Diversity Fair
• Track and Field
• Student Council Elections
• Student Council
• Music Night
• Baseball
• Rugby
• Athletic Council
• OFSSA tennis
Thank you to our grade 12 students who attended Prom and were outstanding guests. The dresses, gowns and
suits were beautiful. A special thank you to the staff and chaperones who attended. Congratulations to our Prom
King and Queen Jamie McIntyre and Ryan Fergusen. A special thank you to our Prom Committee for their hard
work to make “a wonderful evening”.
Congratulations to those students who have received acceptance to university or college, and to those who have
plans to enter apprenticeships or the workforce.
Thank you to Mr. Mairs who has retired from Pine Ridge staff. Best wishes to Mr. Teague who is going to
Pickering High School and Mrs. O’Neill who is joining the staff at Port Perry High School. Mr. Leung has been placed
as Vice-Principal at O’Neill Collegiate in Oshawa—our thanks to him for all of his contributions to Pine Ridge.
Earlier in the year, Isham Sevak (grade 10), Rishi Suresh (grade 10) and Thiviyaa Jeyaruban (grade 9)
participated through the Durham Tamil Association in the Canadian Cancer Society Daffodil Campaign. Thank you
to our students who assisted in the campaign which helps so many.
Renovations have been completed in the outdoor area off the new special education wing where the former
daycare was located. Thank you to facility services for an excellent job.
As you review this newsletter 12 students and two teachers will begin our pilot project visiting China, touring
and working with Chinese students to enhance their English skills. We hope this is the beginning of a strong
partnership. Thirteen Chinese students will make a return trip to Pickering in August.
Thank you to our School Community Council who have worked to support the students and staff throughout the
year. Our first SCC meeting is September 30th. Please consider joining this parent group. Congratulations to Mrs.
Markakis—our volunteer of distinction for 2013. Thank you for your volunteer time in fashion.
Enjoy our newsletter which celebrates the many activities and events which have occurred from spring at Pine
Ridge until summer. Have a wonderful summer...be safe and ready for a busy fall!
This is my final newsletter as I am retiring. I’d like to thank our community, our students, and our teachers for
their excellent work. Please welcome Susan Jones, your new principal, to Pine Ridge.
Deborah Johnson
Chris Braney, Trustee 905-509-2426
Paul Crawford, Trustee 905-831-7662
[email protected]
[email protected]
Lisa Millar, Superintendent of Education 905-666-5500
Deborah Johnson, Principal 905-420-1885
 Peggy Perkins, Vice-Principal (A-G)
 Craig Marlatt, Vice-Principal (H-N)
 Hoi Leung, Vice-Principal (O-Z)
Page 2
KEEPING in TOUCH
School Website Survey
We have concluded the
first year with our new
website, and we want
to know what you
think! While the layout has changed, we
continue to strive to
provide the information that the members of our school
community need, such
as important dates, reminders, special
schedules, daily announcements, teams,
clubs, department information, and much
more. In order to continue to improve, we need your feedback!
Please visit the school website at www.pineridgesecondaryschool.ca and take our
quick on-line survey. (You can find the link on the front page.) Tell us what you like
and don’t like about the website. Give us your suggestions for what you would like to
see. We look forward to hearing from you! The results will be reviewed in September
and presented to the School Community Council at a future meeting.
How to keep up to date with Pine Ridge information and
events?
www.PineRidgeSecondarySchool.ca
Facebook.com/PineRidgeSecondarySchool
Twitter.com/PineRidgeSS
YouTube.com/PineRidgeSS
or
@PineRidgeSS
Page 3
ARTS DEPARTMENT
MUSIC NEWS
NEWSLETTER JUNE 2013
The Music Department at Pine Ridge has been very active during the second semester.
A big congratulation goes out to Laura Willet who participated in the Oshawa-Whitby
Kiwanis Music Festival.
Grade 10 RCM List-C
2nd Place
Laura Willet
On Wednesday May 8th our Instrumental and Vocal music ensembles presented our
annual Spring Concert. The audience enjoyed some of the repertoire that was
prepared throughout semester two. During the concert the following students were
recognized for their OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION to the Music Department:
GRADE 12 VOCAL CLASS
JUNIOR CONCERT BAND
VOCAL JAZZ CHOIR
SENIOR STAGE BAND
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
SENIOR CONCERT BAND
MUSIC DEPARTMENT
Sarah Tulk
Claire Ormond and Marcus Baskie
Matthew Baskie
Zane Hawley and Simba Wakatama
Gavin Haynes
Danielle Mackenzie and Colin Baker
Stephanie Bouwhuis and Laura Willet
On Wednesday June 12th, Ms. Parker’s Grade 12 Vocal Class presented their final vocal
recital. They were able to fundraise over $300 to donate to “Camp Ooch” in memory of
their former classmate Matthew McFarlane. It was a great night and a fitting finale to
the Grade 12 Vocal students who have worked so hard over the past 4 years.
To wrap up our performances for this year approximately 120 Pine Ridge Music and
Dance students were accompanied to Canada’s Wonderland by Mrs. White, Ms.
Parker, Mr. Onyschuk, Ms. Daubney, and Ms. Zuro. The band’s performance was
enjoyed by many of the visitors at the park that day. WAY TO GO PRSS Super-Band!!!
Our last event of the year was a very successful BBQ & MOVIE NIGHT here at Pine
Ridge. Thanks to all who came out and enjoyed Mr. O’s and Gavin’s fine home cooking!!
CONGRATULATIONS & THANKS TO ALL OF OUR MUSIC STUDENTS FOR A
TREMENDOUS YEAR!!! WAY TO GO PUMAS!!!
.
Page 4
ARTS DEPARTMENT
Grease echoed through halls of Pine Ridge Secondary School from May 29th to June
1st. Congratulations to the over 60 students involved in the cast crew on another successful sold out Pine Ridge musical. All of the students involved should be very proud
of their accomplishments and their hard work. We look forward to seeing everyone at
next year’s production. Have a safe and happy summer!
Page 5
ARTS DEPARTMENT
Pine Ridge held it’s 12th annual dance jamboree, organized by Mrs. Zuro, on
May 7th 2013. It was lots of fun! Over 350 students took part in performances and
workshops. Pine Ridge hosted schools from Uxbridge, Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and
Oshawa. In the morning schools performed routines that they had been working on.
The grade 9 period one class danced musical theatre to The Telephone Song from
Bye Bye Birdie, and the second period performed to Status Quo from High School
Musical, the grade 10's did jive to National Bandstand and Happy Days. The performance class had lots of swag as they hip hopped to Green Goblin. After the performances student’s attended workshops. The first was a hip hop workshop given by
Melissa So. Melissa is the director of Women in Dance Which holds annual shows in
Toronto showcasing professional dancers. The students were then treated to a BBQ
provided by the culinary arts department. After the BBQ the students had a choice
of: Reflexology for the dancer (Linda Googh), beginner contemporary (Lindsay Daniels), salsa workshops(Nancy Nicholson), aerial silks (Jamie Holmes) and advanced
theatre jazz (Jeff Dimitriou) . We were very lucky to have such high quality teachers
come in and share their expertise with the students. Jeff Dimitriou came and taught
a Fosse inspired piece. He is the current choreographer for Degrassi and the LA
Complex. His credits also include Hell Cats, So You Think You Can Dance Season 1, and 4 movement scenes from the last Twilight Movie and Cirque de Soliel
. He has also danced in many broadway shows and performed all over the world.
Linda Googh of the Applause Generator hired two of our students to dance at
the Mayors Charity Gala in Caladonia. They performed New York New York with the
famous group Swinging Rat Pack from New York City. It was a tremendous opportunity and the girls had a great time.
This semester the dance department had help from 2 great co op students,
Danielle Pantano and Shantel Shand. Save the date! The annual dance recital will be
on January 10th and 11th 2014.
Page 6
FRENCH as a SECOND LANGUAGE/
CLASSICAL and INTERNATIONAL LANGUAGES
This semester was full of fun cultural activities in our grades 9, 10 and 11 classes. We
celebrated Mardi Gras with traditional French crepes that we made in class while
watching a DVD shot in New Orleans—the biggest Mardi Gras festival in the world. The
grade 10's went on trips all over the French speaking world during our Francophonie
Festival. They took trips to places such as Vietnam, Luxembourg and Haiti where they
spent a week exploring the French culture in these countries. When they returned they
showed the class all the wonderful places they had visited through such media as
Glogster and Photostory. They also brought back souvenirs and even cooked tasty
treats from the countries they had traveled to. Of course these trips were all taken in
their imaginations but now the grade 10's are truly prepared to explore the world for
real one day and all en français! We also played lots of BINGO to help build vocabulary
and many other competitive group games to reinforce the many concepts we learned
over the semester.
Students in the Grade 11 French class had fun doing their oral presentations as the
culminating task at the end of the term. We had fashion shows, painting lessons and
cooking demonstrations as students presented their research on the French Arts. Students got to explore topics such as fashion, visual arts, theatre, cinema, literature,
music and food, and got to sample Peach Melba, a dessert created by Escoffier, a
French chef who worked with Cesar Ritz, of the Ritz hotel chain. A good time was had
by all!
Students read newspapers, magazines, short stories and children's books and were
introduced to many talented French artists such as Mika and Radio Radio. It was a
highly successful semester where communication in French, with authentic experiential learning and cultural exploration was emphasized.
Page 7
LIBRARY
Over the summer months, the third phase of the Library “refresh” will be completed
and an updated, more student-friendly circulation desk will be installed. With these
welcome changes in place, our Library Learning Commons will continue to support student success at Pine Ridge.
White Pine Reading Program
This semester, students at Pine Ridge regularly signed out our 10
White
Pine Novels and enjoyed the mix of appealing teen fiction titles. Our White Pine Reader
of the year for 2012-2013 is Leah Varga who read all 10 White Pine Titles, each year of
her high school career. Congratulations Leah and Best Wishes in your Post-Secondary
Career! For more information on the White Pine Reading Program, visit the official Forest of Reading Website and click on the Forest of Reading tab.
This year’s winning White Pine Novel is Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts.
Student Success @ the Library
Teacher Librarians are available to assist students through all 4 Stages of
the Research process. We offer curriculum support to students in grades 912 in all subject areas. Stop by and check out our research tools and databases.
Technology News
The Resource Centre has recently added 8 new Fiction Titles to our Kobo Mini ereaders. Students may sign out a Kobo e-reader in the fall. See Ms. Bolsonello or Ms.
Crosby for details.
Student Art Exhibition
Congratulations to Ms. Gagne’s students who showcased their artistic talents in the Library during the month of June. The Art Exhibition was a huge success. Thank You to
all students who donated their paintings for permanent display in the Library to enhance our learning environment!
June’s Features...
Technology:
Fiction:
Kidblog
World War Z
Research Tool: Son of Citation machine
Page 8
ENGLISH
ENGLISH
Well, another year has come to an end. Time for some summer reading! Thanks to all
the English teachers who helped our Grade 10 students prepare for this year’s OSSLT.
As well, thanks to the teachers who took students to enjoy a showing of The Great
Gatsby last month - it was a fun way to be introduced to this classic story.
Some exciting news as we wrap up this academic year is that the English Department
is introducing the Advanced Placement English Literature and Composition
course this September. The Advanced Placement Program allows motivated students
to prepare for and write university-level examinations while still in secondary school.
Passing an AP exam has many benefits; you are enriching your own knowledge and
understanding in a particular subject; you are developing advanced study and discipline skills; you are developing advanced critical thinking and analytical skills; and
you can earn international recognition and/or credit in first year university courses at
many Canadian and international universities/colleges.
Sixteen Grade 12 students will supplement their course work in ENG 4U1 with extra
readings and intensive development of their critical thinking and writing skills to prepare for their AP exam next May. Stay tuned for more information about other Advanced Placement courses here at Pine Ridge!
This May, as part of Mr. Davey's grade 11 Contemporary Aboriginal Voices English class, Tribal Vision
Dance brought their Longhouse traditions to Pine
Ridge. Throughout the day Tribal Vision Dance, an
internationally respected Haudenosaunee cultural
group, conducted a series of workshops introducing
the singing and dancing traditions of the Onkwehonwe of Turtle Island. Not only did students get to listen to the beautifully moving songs of the handdrum but also enjoyed getting out of their chair to
learn how to dance 'longhouse style'. If your child is interested in learning more about First Nation, Metis or Inuit
culture and wishes to gain a grade 11 credit reading Aboriginal Literature, contact Guidance for details.
Page 9
LITERACY
Pop Quiz: How do you comfort a Pine Ridge student who loves grammar?
Answer: There, their, they’re.
But then again, many Pine Ridge students did not really need comforting during this
report card season. The PRSS literacy programs this semester were a huge success
and, for those who joined in, their final reports tell the story of their successes!
Earlier in the semester, the OSSLT Boot
Camp drew a crowd of grade 10 students
who were looking to prepare for the April
11th 2013 literacy test. Ms. Kroekenstoel
and I led students through exercises and
activities targeting the specific skills required for success on the literacy test. After six weeks of “Boot Camp training,” our
Grade 10 students were in top shape!
OSSLT reports are being mailed out in early summer: Grade 10s should keep their
eyes open for their final report in the mail.
After the frenzy of the OSSLT, PRSS students were able to shift gears to focus on ISUs
and final assignments. The ABZ Café, which ran for the final six weeks of classes, provided Grade 9 and 10 students with an opportunity to catch up on their homework in
all subject areas. Using the newly-renovated library, café-goers enjoyed the company
of their friends, improved grades, as well as snacks, drinks, and weekly door-prizes
(Tim Horton’s gift cards!). A special thanks to all those who attended!
Page 10
SCIENCE
The Environmental Science Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) was introduced to Pine
Ridge Secondary School for the first time in the fall of 2012. It is a combination of Environmental Science education, Cooperative Education placements in Green Industry, industry recognized certifications, career exploration and experiential learning activities.
In Grade 11, students in both the College and University streams may choose Environmental
Science (SVN3M). This course provides students with the fundamental knowledge of and skills relating to environmental science that will help them succeed in life after secondary school. Most students
taking this course are also enrolled in the Environmental Science Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
Mrs. Wells has been busy since the beginning of the semester working with her SVN3M Environmental Science class.
This semester, the students visited the Nonquon Environmental Centre for their GPS and water quality certifications. The
GPS program on the first day taught students to use a hand
held device to search and find specified sites while reinforcing
wilderness map skills. On the second day the activity focused
on the rural and urban impacts of water quality in Lake
Scucog.
The Environmental Science SHSM and the SVN3M
course also take advantage of the school's proximity to a watershed ecosystem that overlooks Lake
Ontario. The students monitored Duffins Creek and did a BMI (beathic macro invertebrate) analysis.
They concluded the creek was potentially impaired.
The photograph shows some of our environmental science students with a solar oven that they
built as part of the Great Solar Oven Challenge. In addition to various scientific experiments they performed, the young environmentalists also successfully baked some smores. During the exam period,
they were provided with the opportunity to complete WHMS, First Aid and CPR certification training.
Grade 10 Enriched Science visited the Nonquon Environmental Centre on April 8. They attended a presentation by a trapper on the morning of their visit. In addition to listening to the trapper
explain the value of his trade, they observed and participated in the dissection of a beaver. At lunch,
hot dogs and marshmallows were roasted on an open fire while the students enjoyed a supply of hot
chocolate on what was a cool spring day.
The Grade 10 Enriched Science class also visited the Ontario Science Centre at the end of April.
At the Innovation Centre, they participated in a simulation of a nuclear accident which forced them to
invent a pneumatic robotic arm to pick up and drop into special containers some “radioactive” materials. They also participated in an interactive workshop on optics which, in particular, made impressive
use of lasers and infrared technology.
At the end of May, the Enriched Science class was visited by the
laboratory manager of the Clean Energy Research Laboratory
(CERL) of the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science at the
University of Ontario Institute of Technology. The students produced hydrogen using solar energy and electrolysis. They then
used the hydrogen in a fuel cell to power a fan. In addition to
the lab manager, the students were assisted by a graduate student and three bachelor’s students. Also in attendance, was the
DDSB science facilitator. The students were each given a humorous hydrogen T-Shirt and the school received the gift of a hydrogen kit including a specialized multi-meter and hydrogen toy car.
Finally, congratulations to the two students who earned the highest contest scores at Pine
Ridge: Ryan Ferguson for the Chem 13 New Contest and Brady Metherall for the SIN (Sir Isaac Newton Physics) contest.
Page 11
GUIDANCE and CAREER STUDIES
University and College Bound Students
If you are taking a summer school course, it is your responsibility to ensure your final
marks are received by the college or university. The final transmission of marks is in
mid-August. Students are encouraged to contact the post-secondary schools and fax
required information for the fall session.
Requests for Transcripts
Please call the Guidance Office at 905-250-1252 with your request. Transcripts are
$5.00 per copy.
Important Dates
The Guidance Office is closed from July 8-12, and August 1-16.
Timetable Changes
Timetable changes will take place in September. Details will be released in the student
agenda.
CANADIAN and WORLD STUDIES
This year 3 of our history classes took a field trip back in
time. Our students had the opportunity to sail on a tall ship
across Toronto harbor and then visit historic Fort York.
While sailing, students had the opportunity to raise the sails
and learn about naval navigation in the 19 th century. At
Fort York they practiced holding rifles, attacking in line, and
witnessed how 19 th century muskets were fired. For lunch
we were lucky enough to visit St. Lawrence Market and
sample the incredible array of fresh food. A good time was
had by all!
Courses participating:

11 History of Warfare

12 Canadian History

12 World History
Page 12
BUSINESS and COMPUTER STUDIES
The Business and Computer Studies Department wrapped up a busy year, helping
students to learn crucial skills for school and the workplace.
For those interested in computer studies, we offer Grade 9 and Grade 11 Information
Technology courses (BTT1O1 and BTA3O1). Students learn a variety of application
software, including the Microsoft Office 2010 package. By the end of the semester,
students are required to create a project and use a variety of software to meet their
requirements, including Publisher for a poster, Word for a letter, Excel for a budget,
PowerPoint for a slideshow, FileMaker Pro for a database and HTML for a basic
webpage. Students enjoy completing hands-on activities every day in class and experience a sense of pride in seeing their completed products.
Students who have a logical mind and enjoy a challenge may wish to try their hand
at Computer Programming. Our Grade 10, 11 and 12 courses (ICS2O1, ICS3U1,
ICS4U1) allow students to learn how to create computer programs with user interaction, graphics and other introductory and advanced concepts. At the end of each
course, students design, code and test their own programs, bringing together everything learned in class. Not just for the guys, our female students often take top
marks and every student has a chance to shine!
For those interested in learning about how Business works in everyday life, we offer a
variety of courses. Grade 10 Introduction to Business (BBI2O1) is a great place to
start, with students getting to sample multiple areas of Business, including fundamental concepts, marketing, accounting, entrepreneurship, personal finance and International business. In Grades 11 and 12, students can pursue several of these areas in more detail, including Marketing (BMI3C1), Entrepreneurship (BDI3C1), Accounting (BAF3M1 and BAT4M1), Organizational Management (BOH4M1) and International Business (BBB4M1).
12 of our Businesses classes have NO prerequisites, which means that you can
take them at any point during your time at Pine Ridge regardless of whether or not
you have taken a Business course before. There is always a good time to take Business!
Students who successfully complete 6 Business courses (codes starting with ‘B’) will
earn a Certificate of Endorsement in Business Studies to show their focus in this
important area.
If you have any questions or just want more information, feel free to speak to Mrs.
Reid or any of the other Business and Computer Studies teachers (Mr. Brunzlow, Mr.
Gaddas and Ms. Ganesan).
Congratulations to our 2012-2013 students on a successful year and we look forward
to meeting our new students next year. Remember to study hard to develop those
skills for your future!
Page 13
CO-OPERATIVE EDUCATION
Pine Ridge’s Cooperative Education Department would like to thank all our community
employers for 2012-2013. Our Cooperative Education program would not be the success that it is without the involvement, commitment and support our students receive
from our community partners. Thank you! We look forward to continuing to build on
our positive experiences and having our students placed with you next year. A highlight for our Pine Ridge students was when members of our community such as Kenroy
Wilson from KenCo Car Care and DJ Dames Nells from Flow 93.5 came and talked to
our students about work habits and skills.
Our students are very appreciative for the learning opportunities that they have received during their co-op placements. The employability skills that they have gained
by having participated in our co-op program are numerous. Students have developed
communication and team work skills that will assist them in their future endeavours.
In addition, many of our students were also successful in obtaining employment with
their current co-op placement!
Madison Millard- Viva Retirement Home
Lindsay Carson- The Gap
Chantelle Dunn- LA Pet Grooming
Cullen Ferrier- Construction
Maria Khan-
Sobey’s Flowers
Mark Johnston- Pioneer Contracting
Jonathan Hermina- P.J. Pets
Alyssa Boyd-
Kelsey’s
Derek McLaren- Lone Star
Dezery Allman – Le Chateau
Oshay McLauglin- Boyer Pontiac Dealership
Nzinga Endevour- Urban Planet
Congratulations to all
our students and our
employers for a successful year !
Page 14
ALHEALTH and PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Great news! Pine Ridge will be starting up our football program again next year with
a Varsity Football team. All students from grade 9-12 will have an opportunity to try
out. Interested students should drop by Pine Ridge the week before school to get fitted for their equipment. Mr. Blanchfield will be in the equipment room, at the side of
the school, between 10:00-2:00 on Aug. 27th and Aug. 28th. To pick up equipment
please bring a $300 deposit cheque made payable to Pine Ridge Secondary School.
This cheque will be returned when all equipment is returned at the end of the season.
Practice/Try Outs/Team Fees will be discussed after the first day of school and full
practices will start on Sept. 4. Any students who have any questions should contact
Mr. Blanchfield, Mr. Durant, or Mr. Elliott. Have a great summer and we will see you
on the football field come September!!
The 5th annual Pine Ridge Puma Alumni game was highly attended this year on Tuesday, June 4th, 2013. The game featured many of our former basketball alumni against
our current 2013 Puma squad.
Although, there was a lot of expectations for the alumni to take control of this game
our current Pumas held their own and at half time the score was tied. In the end, the
alums were victorious by a score of 100-77 and both teams enjoyed a fast paced, high
scoring game. Special thanks to all those Pumas who were in attendance including;
Troy Hall, Michael Gayle, Jordan Henry, Malik Jackson-Brown, Kedar, Jamil Graham,
Daniel Wright, Haboubacar Mutumbo, Dre McIntosh, Jermaine Duke, Chase Vassell,
Isiah Swaby, Anthony Addo, Joel
Dash, Solomon Dythe, Aquille Stephens, Jamal Reynolds, Alastair Cole,
Tosin Olajide, Jay Williams, CJ Williams, Daniel Dash, Peter Henry and
Mustafa Prince.
Hope to see you all next year and
thanks for putting on such a great
performance,
Mr. Nekkers & Mrs. Biffin
Ariel Whaley and Jonathan Maves won the LOSSA Mixed Doubles Championship in November. That earned them a trip to the OFSAA Championships at the Rexall Tennis
Center at York University. Ariel and Jonathan had the opportunity to play on Center
Court where they lost a thrilling match in the OFSAA Mixed Doubles Semi-Finals! Well
done Ariel and Jonathan!
Congratulations to Junior Boys’ Rugby players Sean Foreman, Ryan Gallant and Ryan
Hagan for making the Ontario Junior Blues U16 team. They will be going on tour to
the Leicester Academy in early August. Congratulations gentlemen!
Page 15
HEALTH AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION
The Pine Ridge Dragon Boat
racing team finished third in the
province in the Junior Mixed
Championship of the Toronto
International Dragon Boat Race
Festival on Saturday. The team
also came fourth in the Pickering Dragon Boat Festival a few
weeks ago. This is a very young
and dedicated team with great
potential to chase the title next
year.
The Pine Ridge Senior Boys’ Rugby had an awesome season coming in a three- way tie
in the West Division with Henry St. and Uxbridge with identical 6 win, 1 loss records.
The Senior Pumas defeated perennial LOSSA Champions Uxbridge Tigers in a thrilling
16-14 at home. Unfortunately the Senior Pumas lost in the LOSSA Semi-Finals to the
upstart Donald A. Wilson Gators.
Track and Field had another outstanding season. Tia Thevenin and William Russell led
the way with LOSSA Gold Medal performances in the Senior Girls’ 100m Hurdles and
Senior Boys’ 400m respectively. Tia added ad Bronze Medal in the Senior Girls’ 100m
Hurdles at OFSAA. Tia has been selected to represent Canada and the World Junior
Track and Field Championships in the Ukraine. Congratulations Tia!
Senior Boys’ Basketball lost to J. Clarke Richardson in the Pickering Spring Basketball
League semi-finals. Thanks to Mr. Nekkers and Ms. Biffin for all their time and effort!
Junior Boys’ Basketball team defeated Dunbarton High School in the Pickering Spring
Basketball League championship game. Thanks to Mr. Nekkers, Ms. Biffin and Mr.
Clement for all their time and effort!
The 20th Annual Athletic Banquet once again honoured our Student Athletes. Thanks
to Ms. Norwood and her organizing committee. Also thanks to Chef Baumann and his
student team for the outstanding dinner. Award Winners are on next page.
Page 16
SPORT
MVP
PUMA AWARD WINNER
Jr. Girls Basketball
Akshita Tandon
Maleka Dalzell
Sr. Girls Basketball
Tyra Forbes
Melissa Briden
Shubham Patel
Kim Kerr
Gary Canam
Kevin Thibodeau
Mathew Camick
Conner Humphries
Jordan Timpson
Kyle Baker
Cross-Country
Jr. Boys Soccer
Jr. Boys Volleyball
Sr. Boys Volleyball
Softball
Ariel Whaley
Deidre-Ann Montague
Girls Rugby 7's Junior
Eleanor Knight
Liane Chretien
Girls 7’s Rugby Senior
Karishma Janie
Sarah McMillan
Midget Boys Rugby
Jordan Vanriel
Riley Cullen
Ryan Hagan
Kevin Thibodeau
Kirk Simonovski
Nabeel Imitiaz
Midget Track & Field
Maleka Dalzell
Victoria Romero-Gomez
Junior Track & Field
Alex Eng-Bailey
Crystal Thompson
Sr. Track and Field
Jaiden Brown
Corrie Waddell
Brooke Timpson
Megan Baskie
Jaimie Laing
Karishma Jani
Ryan Sattz
Joel Heinieman
Ariel Whaley
Jonathan Maves
Jr. Boys Rugby
Sr. Boys Rugby
Jr. Girls Soccer
Sr. Girls Soccer
Boys Baseball
Page 17
SOCIAL SCIENCES and HUMANITIES
The Social Sciences and Humanities Department hopes everyone had
a successful second semester. Our growing department offers a very
diverse selection of courses which encompasses three subject areas:
family studies, general social science and philosophy. Although these
subjects differ widely in topic and approach, they all explore some
aspect of human society, thought and culture. There were MANY exciting activities and events happening in our various courses this semester, such as: our Specialist High Skills Majors program, egg babies, flour babies, cultural food presentations, our Philosophy Café
and the trip to the Ontario Skills Competition in Waterloo.
Skills Ontario
Skills Canada – Ontario is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of
the skilled trades and technologies as viable first-choice career options to Ontario
youth. With the support of our many partners, Skills Canada – Ontario encourages
young people to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies. The Ontario
Technological Skills Competition showcases the talented youth of our province and of
several Pine Ridge students too. Three students from our department represented the
Durham District School board at the Ontario Skills Competition in June. Each performed a personal best and represented the school proudly. This year, 75 students
from PRSS travelled to Waterloo to cheer on their fellow pumas. They also participated in over 50 interactive displays promoting careers in the skilled trades and technologies! All students got the chance to speak with representatives from industry, government, associations and labour forces and to gather information about post-secondary
training, including apprenticeships and many of the Ontario
Colleges and Universities.
Remi Lawrence - Fashion Design
Maya Hong - Job Interview
Kleanthi Markakis - Job Skill Demonstration
Canada's Wonderland SHSM Training
Students in the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program have opportunities for experiential learning which consists of planned learning activities that take place outside
the traditional classroom setting. Experiential learning activities give students opportunities to explore, observe, participate in, and reflect on a variety of SHSM specific
experiences and careers. These activities enable students enrolled in the SHSM to find
out about the opportunities available in careers that interest them. Our new trip this
spring was to Wonderland to participate in the Youth Leadership Camps Canada. The
program combines education with entertainment to develop leadership through a day
of speakers, activities and of course FUN!
For more information about the courses the Social Science and Humanities
Department offers, check out our link on the PRSS website.
Page 18
SOCIAL SCIENCES and HUMANITIES
Wednesday, May 8th students within HZB30 Philosophy; The Big Questions and HZT4U
Philosophy; Questions and Theories were hosted the 2013 Philosophy Café series.
The cafes aim to increase students' awareness of world issues and philosophical issues. As well, it also serves to sharpen students' analytical and facilitative skills
while promoting an atmosphere of constructive critical thinking. Topics included discussions such as; What is human nature? What is a soul?, What is a “good life”?
as well as ethical topics including euthanasia, abortion, capital punishment and affirmative action.
The HHG4M Issues in Human Growth and Development, “ Brain Fair,” took place on
Wednesday, May 8th. Students presented their final research topics to increase awareness of mental health issues and human development disorders. Specific topics displayed were Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Schizophrenia, Autism/Asperger’s Syndrome and Brain Activity during Sleep as well as breadth of preventable issues including Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Child Abuse and Obesity.
Page 19
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Special Education Students Honoured with City of Pickering Civic Award
Ms. Hopper’s ME/LS class and Ms. Anderson’s PLP1 class were presented with The Environment Award at the City of Pickering Civic Awards Ceremony on May 27, 2013.
Students Sean Saravanamuttu, Jeff Saunders, Nakulan Uthayan, Melissa Molica, Kody
Tyo and Hayley Toswell represented the groups, with their teachers, at the ceremony
at City Hall where Mayor David Ryan
presented them with a civic award for
their many environmental efforts which
include sorting and collecting the recycling from all 135 classrooms and workrooms in the school every week, establishing and maintaining an upcycling
program (collecting and cleaning juice
pouches to be made into post-consumer
products) and diverting many other
items from landfill by reusing them to
make a variety of crafts. The classes
also collected hundreds of cans throughout this year, cleaned them up, decorated them and marketed them as
“Anything Cans”. All the proceeds
(almost $1000) were donated to a local
charity called Dreams and Wishes that
provides opportunities for children living
in poverty. These two classes are definitely very proud and extremely worthy
recipients of this prestigious award.
Page 20
SPECIAL EDUCATION
This spring, one Pine Ridge teacher was recognized with two awards for “consistently
going over and above the call of duty to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities”. On May 14, 2013, Ms. Hopper, the ME/Life Skills teacher was recognized by
the Council for Exceptional Children and on May 27, 2013, she received the City of
Pickering Access Award for Individuals with Disabilities for the exceptional effort she
puts forth on a regular basis to ensure that her students are included and that their
education is enriched with many worthwhile experiences. She is continually involving
the class in activities that allow them to give back to their community. The class is
responsible for the recycling program at the school, they do two craft sales each
year, learning all the elements of running a small business, each student does a supported work placement in the community, and they do a number of fundraising endeavours to raise money for a variety of charities. This past fall, they were highlighted on the front page of the local News Advertiser for their “Anything Can” project in
which they collected empty food cans (which are symbolic of the fact that we have
enough to eat), decorated them and marketed them as “Anything Cans” for a minimum donation of $2. per can. Overall, they diverted hundreds of cans from recycling
or landfill and raised about $1000 for a local charity called Dreams and Wishes which
provides opportunities for children living in poverty. A few years ago, when the
Special Olympics were held in Durham, Ms. Hopper and her class made and sold almost 1000 Inukshuks and raised a whopping $8300.00 in order to sponsor 16 athletes for the event. Mrs. Hopper’s commitment to her students extends beyond
their high school years. She invites them back to participate in the recycling program as volunteers and she recently spearheaded a campaign to raise money for a
former student who was terminally ill. In a very short period of time, she was able
to raise $3600.00 for the family to enjoy the time they had left together. “Of
course,” says Ms. Hopper, “I could not possibly accomplish ANY of the things I set
out to do without the help of a top-notch classroom team consisting of four EA’s:
Mrs. McBride, Mrs. Cerqua, Mrs. Kennelly and Mrs. Oegema, a supportive administration who grants me support while still allowing just the
right amount of
autonomy and
twelve wonderful
students and
families.” Congratulations to
Ms. Hopper and
her team for their
amazing work.
Page 21
SPECIAL EDUCATION
Renovations are Complete
After a year of renovations, the Developmental
class will finally be at Pine Ridge S.S. in September. Both the Developmental and the Practical Learning Program II classes will be located
in the former daycare. The former daycare
playground has been converted into a beautiful
garden space for all four small classes to use.
The small classes will be using the garden
space to learn life skills such as caring for the
environment, studying the life cycle of plants,
recycling plant matter and producing compose,
and growing plants for school use.
Academic Resource Has Moved
Academic Resource has moved to room 2038, the space formally occupied by the Guidance department. The same services will be offered to students with special needs.
Academic Resource will continue to be available before school, at lunch and after
school.
Small Class BBQ and Celebration
On June 14, the classes of Mrs. Hopper (Multiple Exceptionalities-Life Skills), Ms. Anderson (Practical Learning Program I) and Mr. Hipps (Practical Learning Program II)
and the families of the students in those classes celebrated the accomplishments of the
past year. We have three students graduating out of Mrs. Hopper’s program, two of
which will be moving onto the School to Work Program at Ajax High School.
Page 22
TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION
The Technological Education Department would like to congratulate Dylan Shields, who earned a bronze medal in the Mechanical
C.A.D. Skills Competition in Waterloo, Ontario. This was an outstanding performance by Dylan, as he competed with students
from across the province.
Mr. Baumann’s SHSM students have completed another year in the culinary arts
field. The SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major) program allows
students to focus on a career path that matches their individual
skills and interests. Several students who are graduating will receive a special red seal on their diploma and acknowledgement
of completion of the program.
The Foods’ students worked hard this year in preparing exquisite meals and baking
goods for lunches and several school events. Many thanks goes to Mr. Baumann and
Mr. Wagner for their hard work as passionate teachers. In Semester 2, Mr. Wagner’s
grade 12 class will be participating in a dual credit with Durham College.
Mr. Navarrete’s grade 12 manufacturing students put their metal and woodworking skills to
use and fabricated a foosball table.
Starting in September, Mr. Martorelli will be
running a specialized grade eleven Barbering
course.
In the new school year, our shops will be getting some updated and improved equipment that will make an increased contribution to a safe learning environment.
Mr. Williams’s communications students received second place - provincially and third
place - nationally, in a video contest entitled: “It’s Your Job”. This contest was sponsored by the Ministry of Labour and the theme was: Workplace Safety. Congratulations goes to Tashika Griffiths, Derek Reid-Wilkinson, Bayley Ungurain, and Nolan
Begley for their outstanding accomplishment. Special recognition is given to Mr. Williams for his dedication and commitment, in engaging these students.
Mr. Mauro’s grade 12 Technological Design class has completed another dual credit
with Centennial College. Many students earned a high school credit and an Ontario
college credit, within the same time frame of a regular class period.
Page 23
TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION
For first hand news about what’s going on at Pine Ridge, you can view the grade 12
Communications “Puma Prowl News Broadcast” on YouTube: www.youtube.com/
pineridgess.
We wish all students and teachers a safe and well deserved summer break.
Page 24
TECHNOLOGICAL EDUCATION
Congratulations to Pine Ridge Communications Technology students Tashika Griffiths, Derek Reid-Wilkinson, Nolan Begley, and Bayley Ungurain for taking second
place in the Ministry of Labour Workplace Safety Video contest, It's Your Job. The
video was submitted to the contest as part of a Comm Tech Film Production project.
The video, "Faceless Statistic", told the tale of a young worker who falls victim to a
Workplace tragedy. The young worker wants her mishap to make a difference in improving work place safety, and not just be a faceless statistic.
The Pine Ridge students competed against their peers from all over Ontario and
placed second in a field of twenty six videos submitted. The students were presented
with their award at a ceremony held at Pine Ridge Secondary School on June 7th by
Joe Dickson, M.P.P. for Ajax-Pickering, Gary Gibson, Manager, Health and Safety,
Durham District School Board and Sue Boychuk, Stakeholder Relations, Ministry of
Labour. It was announced during the ceremony that the video was submitted to the
National competition where it placed Third in all of Canada.
A great accomplishment for Tashika, Derek, Nolan, and Bayley.
Page 25
RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS
The Durham District School Board and Pine
Ridge Secondary School follow the Guidelines and Procedures for the Accommodation of Religious Requirements Practices
and Observances.
This document has been produced in compliance with requirements of Ontario’s Equity and Inclusive Education Strategy within the contexts of the Canadian Charter of
Rights and Freedoms and the Ontario Human Rights Code. This document assists us
in creating and maintaining equitable and
inclusive environments within our schools
and facilities, and guides the process of
providing religious accommodations as the
need arises. The document is available for
viewing at www.ddsb.ca or you may ask to
review a copy at your child’s school.
If you anticipate that you or your family might require religious accommodation at any
point during the school year we ask that you inform the administration at your child’s
school as early as possible, preferably at the start of the school year. Areas that you
might consider include, but are not limited to, the following:
Observation of major religious holy days and celebrations
Accommodation in, or exemption from, specific areas of the curriculum or other
school activities
Religious attire
Modesty requirements in physical education
School opening and closing exercises
Prayer
Dietary requirements
You are also welcome to speak to your school administration about unanticipated religious accommodation needs as they arise.
Page 26
TRANSPORTATION CHANGES for DDSB STUDENTS
Effective September, 2013, school bus transportation will be provided to secondary students meeting Durham Student Transportation Services
(DSTS) criteria. Secondary students (Grades 9‐12) will be eligible for
school bus transportation if their primary address is within their designated home
school’s attendance boundary but at a distance of more than four kilometres, based
on DSTS routing.
For those who are eligible, details for the new school
year will be available as of August 19, 2013. Parents/guardians may call 905‐666‐6979 or
1‐888‐908‐6578 with their child’s Ontario Education
Number (the OEN, found on students’ report cards)
and date of birth (YYYYMMDD) for information on
pick‐up and drop‐off times as well as bus stop locations.
Any students who are eligible for bus transportation but do not wish to use the service are asked to contact DSTS. DSTS is open during the summer Monday to Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Student bus passes for Durham Region Transit are
no longer available for purchase at DDSB schools.
Please contact Durham Region Transit or visit their website at
www.durhamregiontransit.com for information regarding cost and purchase locations.
Page 27
UPCOMING DATES
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
2
LABOUR DAY HOLIDAY
3
GRADE 9 DAY (special schedule) – Only Grade 9 students and their parents or guardians attend school.
4
FIRST DAY OF REGULAR CLASSES – ALL GRADES
6
PICTURE DAY – all students must be photographed
30
SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS and FIRST
MEETING 7:00 pm
11
P.A. DAY
14
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
15
PROGRESS REPORTS ISSUED
17
PARENT-TEACHER INTERVIEWS
18
PICTURE RE-TAKE DAY
24
COLLEGE and UNIVERSITY FAIR 2:00 - 4:00 pm
28
SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL MEETING 7:00 pm
2
PARENTS as PARTNERS CONFERENCE (at the DDSB)
6
TAKE OUR KIDS TO WORK DAY – GR 9 STUDENTS
7
SEMESTER 1 TERM 2 STARTS
14
MIDTERM REPORT CARDS ISSUED
Have a safe and happy summer!
STAYING UP TO DATE
www.PineRidgeSecondarySchool.ca