2009-2010 SJK Annual Report - St. John's-Kilmarnock School

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animals it fosters. Mr. Spackman held up a book depicting all manner of exotic creatures: macaws, spider monkeys, poison dart frogs and river dolphins. I stared, engrossed by the almost impossible nature of these creatures - so different from the squirrels and Canada geese that roamed the property of SJK. And yet, Mr. Spackman told us, these creatures were in danger. The Amazon rainforest was being deforested at a rate that boggled my 9 year old mind. The connection between Nauru and the Amazon that fired up my memory is fairly clear. In both cases, man’s economically driven activities - the consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation - pose an existential threat. But as I reflected upon this connection, a reality about my own upbringing became clear: my concern over climate change is directly attributable to my experiences at SJK - specifically, to the remarkably consistent exposure to environmental concerns that I received over my 13 years as a student. I fondly recall trooping through meadows and learning about symbiotic relationships in outdoor science classes with Mr. Curry in Grade 4, or staying up all night for the 24 hour study of the pond’s biophysical systems with Mr. Zink in Grade 7. Upper school brought more intensive investigations into the natural sciences, such as the two bleary-eyed weeks my Grade 10 class spent up at Dorset studying northern Ontario’s natural environment in the fall and winter. Grade 11 gave me the eye-opening chance to study marine science in the Bay of Fundy through a unique course that SJK offered. Time and time again the complexity, vulnerability and importance of the natural environment was impressed upon me. Never has such knowledge been more important. Decades of scientific evidence point to an uncomfortable but undeniable truth: through pollution, resource consumption and climate change we are damaging the delicate biophysical systems upon which human society depends for its well-being and long-term survival. The complexity of the interlinkages between the natural and man-made systems enmeshing the planet make the precise consequences of this damage difficult to predict. Nevertheless, it is safe to say that a world defined by climatic instability, pollution, food and water shortage, decreased biodiversity and increased economic disparity is one we cannot comfortably gift onto our children and grandchildren. Yet this is precisely what we are doing. It many ways, our inaction is understandable. It is phenomenally difficult to cumulatively alter our lifestyles in meaningful ways - human society is marked by significant inertia. Many hurdles stand in our way to a sustainable future, some technical, some economic. Perhaps the most problematic of these, however, are socially constructed by powerful actors with a vested interest in the status quo. As such, mankind’s long-term prosperity hinges upon the mainstream acceptance that environmentalism is the domain of reasonable-minded pragmatists, not radical thinkers. This is a lesson that needs to be urgently and consistently impressed upon young students everywhere. It is not simply faraway climes like Nauru or the Amazon that depend upon our success in this endeavour, but all of human society. I learned many things in SJK’s classrooms. Some have served me well in my post-secondary life, others perhaps less so. I sincerely believe, however, that the most important lesson SJK taught me was about mankind’s complex and inextricable connection to the environment. I will always have fond memories of the forward-thinking teachers at SJK who work so hard to pass this vital lesson on to future generations. Andrew Reid ‘03 graduated from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, in 2007, and has just completed an MA in Global Governance from the University of Waterloo. He has conducted climate change research for Friends of the Earth Canada and the David Suzuki Foundation, and was a delegate to United Nations for the Republic of Nauru. He has recently accepted a research position with the Ecologic Institute, an environmental think tank in Berlin, Germany, and plans on pursuing a PhD in International Relations.
Lower School Lower School Director Mrs. Mary Perrett The 2009 – 2010 school year was a smooth and very busy one. A variety of learning opportunities in the classroom and co-curricular activities provided the students with a rich, well-balanced learning experience. Assessment was highlighted at Curriculum Night and the Professional Development day in November and it continued to be a focus for the year for teachers. The students and teachers had many opportunities to demonstrate their support for the community and provide service and action. Dress down day money supported a number of local charities and Mr. Spackman and Mrs. Tippin took the money raised to support the Thankani School in Nepal with them on their trip to Nepal in March. Other major fundraising initiatives included the IB Asia Pacific and Singapore Red Cross humanitarian project to train Sri Lankan teachers in early childhood care and development and Haiti Relief. Most students participated in co-curricular varsity programmes and clubs. These included: soccer, field hockey, cross country running, wrestling, track and field, primary and junior choir, Mad Science, cooking, art, drama, sewing machine, karate, structures, chess, dance, environment, baseball, fitness and intramurals were offered every Tuesday and Thursday at lunch to students in grades 3 to 5. This was the first year that junior kindergarten students were able to participate in clubs after school. Highlights of the year included: Eaglemania, the junior choir singing at the Guelph Storm hockey game and at the Gowdy Nursing home in Kitchener, the sold-out musical performances of Rats!, Jacquot on French Day, the Hallowe’en costume parade and parties, the Christmas Skating party and PA Christmas lunch, student-led conferences, Grandpersons’ Day, year-end celebrations including The Sounds of Music concert, year end trips, and World Cup Soccer play day. Caleb - Teacher for a Class
Page 1 and 2: SJK Annual Report 2009-2010 SJK www
Page 4 and 5: Letter from the Head Mr. Southward
Page 6 and 7: Our 2010-2014 Strategic Plan: An Ed
Page 8 and 9: The Corporation of St. John’s-Kil
Page 10 and 11: Support for St. John’s-Kilmarnock
Page 12 and 13: Celebrate & Applaud Campaign 2010 O
Page 14 and 15: www.sjkschool.org Upcoming Alumni E
Page 16 and 17: SJK welcomes our newest group of al
Page 20 and 21: Congratulations to grade five stude
Page 22 and 23: With a special focus on internation
Page 24 and 25: also hosted the CIS Drama Festival
Page 26 and 27: e-staged at the Registry Theatre in
Page 28 and 29: a special event, each student in Gr
Page 30 and 31: still be highly successful in utili
Page 32 and 33: Karen Baird Leads Sri Lankan Teache
Page 34 and 35: Outreach and Charitable Giving In 2
Page 36 and 37: Julie Mattell, Vice President and S
Page 38 and 39: WINTER TERM Senior Girls’ Volleyb
Page 40: St. John’s-Kilmarnock School Comi

2009-2010 SJK Annual Report - St. John's-Kilmarnock School

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