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Positive Press

Positive Press

This feature includes news stories that have been covered by the media and celebrate SCDSB student, staff and volunteer achievements, initiatives and commitment to character. If you see a positive story in the media that features SCDSB students, staff and volunteers, please e-mail the link or story headline, date and publication name to webadmin@scdsb.on.ca.

Week of September 19-23, 2011

‘Leave everything on the mat’ - Longtime wrestling coach and retired teacher nominated for Barrie Sports Hall of Fame
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3302296
The Barrie Examiner - September 17
Asked to pick one special memory or moment that stands out more than any other from his more than 30 years of coaching wrestling, understandably Tom Stockdale at first seems overwhelmed with the question. "There's so many wonderful things about coaching individuals," said the retired Portage View Elementary School teacher, who coached the school wrestling team from 1980 until 2006.

MSS club in running for $20,000 prize - Contest winnings would go toward creating outdoor classroom
http://www.simcoe.com/community/education/article/1084635--mss-club-in-running-for-20-000-prize
simcoe.com - September 19
The Midland Secondary School horticulture club needs votes. The club is one of 10 finalists for the Majesta Trees of Knowledge $20,000 outdoor classroom contest. The prize would help pay for items such as topsoil, loam materials, boulders/furniture (large rocks, logs and stumps), trees, shrubs and planters. Teacher/librarian Wendy Bumstead said she learned about the contest after being sent an email last spring.

Orillia wrestlers compete in Mexico - Mariposa Wrestling Club members make up one-third of Canadian team at Pan American Games
http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3304269
Orillia Packet & Times - September 20
Three members of the Mariposa Wrestling Club made up one-third of the girls' wrestling squad that represented Canada at the Pan-American Games in Campeche, Mexico in August. The trio of Orillia athletes, competing in the cadet championships, wrestled to the best of their ability, but came up short of winning a Pan-Am medal . . . Nicole Roach, the oldest athlete of the three and a returning veteran to Team Canada, won a match against Rosales Say of Guatemala, but lost matches to competitors from the U.S. and Venezuela to place fourth in the 60-kilogram weight class. Roach, a Grade 12 Orillia District Collegiate and Vocational Institute (ODCVI) student, took the most conventional approach, finishing fourth at nationals before wrestling to a second-place finish at FILA, the qualifying competition for Team Canada.

Kenya Study Program “life-changing”
http://www.bradfordtimes.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3307307
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times - September 22
The 16 Simcoe County students and two adults who travelled to Kenya in Africa, for a "Free the Children/Me to We" Kenya Study & Leadership Program experience this summer, returned to Canada on August 23 - and reunited on August 26, for a BBQ, and an opportunity to share memories and photographs. For 7 days of the adventure, the group helped to build a community school in Sikirar, Kenya. For the rest of the time, they took part in activities that included a safari, and a "water walk" with their Kenyan hosts - walking kilometres with the women to the nearest available water source, where they filled 20 Litre jugs, then carried them back to the village.

24 hours of reality
http://www.bradfordtimes.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3307293
Bradford West Gwillimbury Times - September 22
Over 150 students at Bradford District High School took part in Al Gore's 24 hours of Reality, an event that catalyzes urgency around climate change. The event began online in Mexico City on September 14, and concluded in New York City the following evening. Millions of people around the world joined in to watch the live stream from countries in all 24 time zones. The Bradford High event was led by the school's green team, which gave out eco-friendly pencils, reusable bags, and bamboo t-shirts to an army of eager students. The green team hoped to get students involved in the "green movement", and ultimately encourage Bradford voters to consider the future generations in the fast-approaching provincial election.

Barrie North hits the streets in Terry's name
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3309071
The Barrie Examiner - September 22
Barrie's east end saw a lot of gold and green Thursday morning, as 1,300 staff and students from Barrie North Collegiate hit the streets in the name of Terry Fox. "This has been a tradition that Barrie North has had," said the school's principal, Mike Schneider. "I'm so proud of our staff for putting it together." The entire student body and staff walked or ran a three-kilometre route around the school to commemorate Terry Fox's historic Marathon of Hope 31 years ago, which aimed to raise money for cancer research.

Banks made his mark coaching high school sports - Longtime PSS teacher shocked by hall-of-fame honour
http://www.simcoe.com/sports/article/1109697--banks-made-his-mark-coaching-high-school-sports
simcoe.com - September 23
When Larry Banks talks about how his life has been enriched by the citizens, teachers and students he has come in contact with over the years, his eyes sparkle . . . It was a memorable spring day that year when he met then PSS principal Don Beatty, a former Canadian Football League player with Calgary and Hamilton. “Don Beatty was someone you never said no to,” recalled Banks. “But … Don couldn’t have been nicer to me.” During his 17 years at PSS, Banks coached numerous championship teams in football, hockey, and track and field. He later took his teaching and coaching skills to Midland Secondary School and Twin Lakes Secondary School in Orillia before returning to PSS and retiring in 1999. In recognition of his contributions to MSS, the school created the Larry Banks Award.

Week of September 12-16, 2011

Grants for School board
http://www.sunshine891.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=38758
Sunshine 89.1 - September 14
The Simcoe County District School Board is getting a $34,000 grant from the Ministry of Education. The money will be used to connect with parents through a wide range of workshops, activities and programs designed to enhance student success and further engage parents in their child's education.

Boards pleased with EQAO test results
http://www.newtectimes.com/news/2011-09-15/News/Boards_pleased_with_EQOA_test_results.html
New Tecumseth Times - September 15
Local school boards seem pleased with the results from the latest round of standardized provincial testing. On Wednesday, the Education Quality and Accountability Office released board and school results on three of its provincial tests ‹ the two elementary school assessments of reading, writing and math administered in grades 3 and 6, and the secondary school assessment of mathematics that is conducted in Grade 9.

Student completes Weekend to End Cancer walk
http://www.simcoe.com/community/stayner/article/1081971
simcoe.com - September 14
A local student raised $2,300 in the Weekend to End Women's Cancers held in Toronto last weekend. Caitlin Brownfield, a Creemore resident and CCI student, participated in the 60 km walk with her mother. She said she walked in memory of her grandmother.

Inspired by Terry - Warminster warrior inspired by Terry Fox, passes the inspiration baton to others
http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3300984
Orillia Packet & Times - September 16
The world's fastest single-leg amputee marathon and now track runner wouldn't be where he is today without the inspiration he drew from Terry Fox. Rick Ball was 14 years old in 1980 when Terry Fox was running across Canada, raising money for cancer research. Ball was 21 when he lost a leg in a motorcycle accident in 1986. "I was devastated. I thought my life was over," Ball told pupils of Warminster Public School in his first presentation to the school he graduated from more than 30 years ago. The school was taking part in its Terry Fox Run Thursday

Week of September 5-9, 2011

Bigger, brighter and better schools
http://www.simcoe.com/community/barrie/article/1075916
simcoe.com - September 5
School classrooms aren’t what they used to be. Today’s new additions are designed with student achievement in mind. That means large windows to let in the daylight. Banks of lighting are no longer focused on the blackboard, and instead, rows of lights can be turned off to supplement natural light. “For years, we put in insulated panels (above windows) and now we’re going back to natural daylight, which improves student marks,” said Brad Parkes, the Simcoe County District School Board’s design and construction manager.

A high school to call their own - Nottawasaga Pines Secondary School officially opens
http://www.simcoe.com/community/education/article/1076910--a-high-school-to-call-their-own
simcoe.com - September 6
For Grade 11 student Jimi Bergsma, getting to be part of the first wave of students to attend Angus’ new high school this September is special on many levels. But perhaps what it symbolizes for him is most important.

Mundy thankful for wealth of sports memories - Former ‘Mr. Hockey’ in Penetanguishene pays tribute to athletes, volunteers he has known
http://www.simcoe.com/sports/article/1078335--mundy-thankful-for-wealth-of-sports-memories
simcoe.com - September 8
Doug Mundy says the many sports trophies he has laid hands on over the years are nothing next to the memories he earned along the way . . . On Oct. 1, Mundy will be one of four inductees welcomed into the Penetanguishene Sports Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2011. On that night, the former Penetanguishene Secondary School teacher and basketball, hockey and baseball coach will be honoured along with Edmond Desrochers Jr. (boxing), Larry Banks (coaching) and Chris Kontos (hockey).

Week of August 29 to September 2, 2011

Teacher puts pen to paper about Terry’s visit - ‘I get goose bumps when I tell the story of seeing him (in Barrie)’
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3281049
The Barrie Examiner - September 1
Seeing Terry Fox run past King Edward School in 1980 has become a novel memory for a Barrie teacher. Shawna Potje has never forgotten Fox's Marathon of Hope and the effect it had on the country, so she wrote a book about it . . . Potje, 37, recently wrote and self-published the juvenile novel, The Courage to Try, as a teaching tool for her students at Barrie's W.C. Little Elementary School.

They're at the top!
http://www.midlandfreepress.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3281480
Midland Free Press - September 1
Mundy's Bay Public School has been recognized as the top energy performing school by Ontario Enerlife Consulting. The school, built in 2008, incorporates ground-source heat pumps and full air conditioning initially with 32.5 kBtu per square foot.

Changing lives in Kenya
http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1073919--changing-lives-in-kenya
simcoe.com - August 31
Three local girls, sisters Hailey and Shaelene Chapman, as well as Keily Forster, have just returned from a two-week stint in Kenya, where they were helping build schools for rural children. The adventure was part of the Kenya Study and Leadership Program, made available through the Simcoe County District School Board. The girls, Hailey, 17, Shaelene, 16, and Keily, 16, agree it was an experience that left them with a lifetime of memories. The students started the program while in second semester at Stayner Collegiate Institute earlier this year. Every Monday and Wednesday night they would go to the Barrie Learning Centre, where they would learn about Kenya and the work they would do there this summer.

Video: Grade 9 Orientation at Bear Creek Secondary School (9:00 - 11:25)
http://ctvnewsbarrie.ca/videos/519/thursday-september-1-2011-ctv-news-at-6-webcast
CTV News Barrie - September 1
Grade nine students are getting the chance to check out their new digs before classes begin on Tuesday. K.C. Colby is at a local high school for orientation day and tells us how students are reacting to the transition.

Week of August 22 - 26, 2011

Two new Specialist High Skills Major courses being introduced
http://www.innisfilscope.com/news/2011-08-24/News/Two_new_Specialist_High_Skills_Major_courses_being.html
The Innisfil Scope - August 24
The Simcoe County District School Board will be offering secondary students greater access to career-related learning opportunities, with the addition of two new Specialist High Skills Major programs. Starting in September, Stayner Collegiate Institute will be offering a SHSM in the Environment sector, and Midland Secondary School will be offering an Information, Communications and Technology program. The Environment sector SHSM will support students in building a foundation of environmentally focused knowledge and skills. The program will help students identify, explore and refine their career goals as they relate to the environment.

Respect for the game is goal of STOP
http://www.orilliapacket.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3270598
Orillia Packet & Times - August 24
Jordan Moloney is one brave soul. He has returned to the hockey arena that he will never again play in to assist in the Safety Towards Other Players (STOP) program to reduce hockey injuries. The 11-year-old Severn Township boy left the West Orillia Sports Complex in January by ambulance when he was body-checked from behind, crashed into the boards, and went unconscious during the third period of a house league hockey game. He sustained a severe concussion, sprained neck and bruised spine. Now with an acquired brain injury, Moloney has been advised by doctors to never again play hockey or any other contact sports. "It's very upsetting," said Jordan. "It's hard to accept," added the Orchard Park Elementary School student who is going into Grade 7.

Mundy's Bay Public School is top energy performer
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3273272 
The Barrie Examiner, Midland Free Press - August 25
Mundy's Bay Public School has been recognized as the top energy performing school by Ontario Enerlife Consulting. The school, built in 2008, incorporates ground-source heat pumps and full air conditioning initially with 32.5 kBtu per square foot.

Bright ideas at school - Natural light the focus for Angus high school
http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3273713
The Barrie Examiner - August 26
The "flagship" of the Simcoe County District School Board will be setting sail in September. Nottawasaga Pines Secondary School in Angus will open its doors to approximately 600 students in grades 9, 10 and 11. Grade 12 students from feeder schools will be allowed to complete their studies without the disruption of moving. The $22-million, 140,000-square-foot school is located on land next to the village's recreation centre and will include Angus' new public library and a community policing office.

Students Honoured
http://www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca/news_item.php?NewsID=38188
Bayshore Broadcasting News Centre - August 26
A pair of students from our area have been honoured this week, for their work during last year's school season. Judah Page -- who attends the public school in Creemore -- was praised at this week's school board meeting after he came second in the province in the Royal Canadian Legion Public Speaking Contest . . . And Sierra McLean -- a students at Connaught Public School in Collingwood -- won the TD Canadian Children's Book Week Writing Contest for 2011.